Self-interest & Shared-interest

“One Glass Won’t Hurt… or Will It?”

Once upon a time, a king wanted to understand how deeply his citizens cared for others—not just in words, but in action. He came up with a plan.

He placed a massive cauldron in the courtyard and made an appeal:

“Each of you bring a single glass of milk. By evening, this cauldron will be full. We will give this milk to the children of the poor who need our help.”

All day, people came with opaque glasses made of copper, steel, clay. They poured the contents into the cauldron and moved on.

At sunset, the King’s ministers opened the cauldron.

It was filled with water. Not a single drop of milk.

Each person had thought, “With so many others bringing milk, one glass of water won’t hurt.”

This story isn’t about milk. It’s about mindset. There are two forces that shape our decisions at work and in life:

🧍‍♀️ Self-Interest – “What do I get from this?”

It’s about looking out for yourself.
Your goals. Your growth. Your time.

👥 Shared-Interest – “What can we create together?”

It’s about thinking beyond yourself.
The team. The mission. The long-term good.

Most of us carry both inside us. The key isn’t choosing one or the other. It’s learning how to balance them.

🧠 So… Where Do You Stand?

Here’s a moment of reflection.

1. When a project needs extra effort…

  • Do you quietly hope someone else steps up?
  • Or do you see yourself as part of the solution?

2. When you learn something useful…

  • Do you keep it to yourself?
  • Or do you share it with the team?

3. When you help others…

  • Are you also asking for what you need?

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