Leader: In the book ‘Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win,’ written by Jocko Willink, there is a training story where seven Navy SEAL trainees form a team and carry a rubber boat weighing over 100 kg on their heads. Usually, one team would finish first and another last, but the team members stayed the same, and only the leaders were swapped. As a result, the team that finished last moved to first place, and the team that was first became second. What changed was that only the leaders were replaced; the rest of the team remained the same. It’s important to note that, although a leader’s ability greatly influences success, the key point is that the team that was initially first was moved to second place, not last, even though the leader from the last team took over the first team. This is because, under the previous leader, team members developed a winning habit, which persisted even when the leader changed. The most crucial element in an organization is the leader itself....
Rice has been the staple crop of the East, while wheat has been the staple of the West. Rice requires more water to produce than wheat. Rice farmers had to contend with the availability of water, which favored collective farming. Wheat could be grown with less labor than rice. Rice farmers lived collectively, while wheat farmers lived individually. Collective agriculture led to the development of societies that were governed by village rules. On the other hand, individual agriculture led to cultures that valued personal freedom and respect for individuality over communal rules. Patterns of agriculture have indisputably influenced social structure and culture. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”