7/31/2019 Me and Peter F Drucker

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The ExperiencesWhen I was doing my MBA I got to know a famous organization theorist called Peter F Drucker. In one of

his articles he told about 10 experiences which changed his life. I really liked three of them which also became mylife lessons.

First Lesson from Peter F Drucker:When Drucker was working at the age of 18 in an export firm, he used to go to opera once a week. On

one of those evenings he went to hear an opera by the great 19th-century Italian composer, Giuseppe Verdi--thelast opera he wrote, Falstaff. Although it was one of Verdi's most popular operas, it was rarely performed becauseboth singers and audiences thought it too difficult. Even though he had heard great many operas up to that time,he was amazed by this piece of art work.

However not only the opera itself but also the reality behind the opera stunned him. That opera waswritten by a man of 80! Writing such an opera in that old age, impressed Drucker. He made some research onVerdi and found out that Verdi was also asked why he had taken on the hard work of writing an exceedinglydemanding opera at that age, when he was already considered to be one of the foremost opera composers of hiscentury. Verdi answered that "All my life as a musician I have written several operas and I had striven forperfection. I surely had an obligation to make one more try." When they asked Verdi Which opera was his bestopera? He answered that I did not write it yet.

After this day Drucker promised himself that whatever his life's work would be, Verdi's words would behis lodestar. I agree with Drucker If I ever reach such an advanced age, I would not give up but would keep on. Inmeantime I would strive for perfection and keep Verdis words in my mind.

Second Lesson from Peter F Drucker:It is a story of the greatest sculptor of ancient Greece, Phidias. He was commissioned around 440 b.c. to

make the statues to stand on the roof of the Parthenon, in Athens. They are considered among the greatestsculptures of the Western tradition. When Phidias submitted his bill, the city accountant of Athens refused to payit. "These statues," the accountant said, "stand on the roof of the temple, and on the highest hill in Athens.Nobody can see anything but their fronts. Yet you have charged us for sculpting them in the round--that is, fordoing their back sides, which nobody can see." "You are wrong," Phidias retorted. "The gods can see them."

After reading this it hit me as it hit Drucker. I knew that I will write several stories and strive for perfectioneven if only the gods notice.

Third Lesson from Peter F Drucker:Druckers father was a friend of famous mathematician. At that time the mathematician was about to die

from cancer and his father was often visiting his friend and trying to be with him in his last days. One day Drucker

joined him in his visit.Druckers father smilingly asked his friend how should we remember you after you pass away, either asthe most famous mathematician or as a lady killer? His friend answered that remember me as the teacher whoeducated the most famous mathematicians of the world.

This answer also stunned me as it stunned Drucker. I also wanted to teach people and share theknowledge that would make them capable of shaping their lives in a better way.

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