![]() Nor was he overly worried about what might befall him in his encounter with this difficult customer - a beast with three monstrous heads, the tail of a dragon and a back covered with poisonous vipers. He was not arrested by fear of Cerberus' ferocious appearance or reputation. Hercules was able to defeat the three-headed dog because he was sufficient to the task. ![]() Despite the illusion of permanence, shift happens. Even great civilizations, like the Greeks and Romans, fall when the paradigm changes. This is true of individuals, teams, companies, and countries. We become mired in the past and lose the ability to be innovative and progressive. Being stuck in old ways of thinking and doing things prevent renewal. When we become overly tradition-bound or tied to "the way we do things around here" enterprises become anachronistic. Toyota, Hewlett-Packard and Saab are also deeply connected to past accomplishments. Companies like Boeing, Walt Disney and Apple have rich histories that are remembered and celebrated. So, too are the memories of those heroes who paved the way for us. Stories of triumphs and victories over difficult circumstances are instructive to present and future endeavors. As well, they gather wisdom from past exemplars of courage, enterprise and inspiration. They revel in the memories, examples and stories of past success. Individuals and organizations that use the past as a source of received wisdom can also escape hell. These teachings provided important guidance for Hercules in his quest to defeat Cerberus and complete the 12th of his epic labors. No human ever returned, let alone survived, a visit. Hercules wisely consulted the old Eleusinian mysteries for the secrets of the underworld before departing to Hades. We can learn much from Hercules about defeating the three-headed dog and gaining freedom from self-inflicted fear and misery.
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