Here's why you should take Birbal's advice on drawing your line longer

Every entrepreneur has a different definition of success. While some view diversification of a product line as a sign of prosperity, others see an increase in the number of their customers and employees as a mark of growth. Growth, however, can be a result of business done right or it can be simply seen as a means to an end. Several businessmen measure their success by taking into account their competitor's business style and not their own business plan. Entrepreneurs should instead focus on drawing their line longer when it comes to their own business undertakings.

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Entrepreneurs should start by asking themselves what business cycle they want to be in and what efficiencies they'd like to develop. It's like the small fable by Birbal about drawing one's own line bigger. According to the fable, Akbar once drew a line on the wall and asked his subjects to make the line shorter without touching or removing any part of the line. None of the subjects thought it was possible. Birbal took up the challenge and drew a longer line parallel to the first line. This automatically made Akbar's line appear shorter, and Birbal did this without touching or removing any part of it. It is a good lesson to follow for business, work, and life.

You'll be able to derive success from the line you draw for your business endeavours, and more often than not, it will be bigger and better than your closest competitors. This is especially true for women entrepreneurs in India who are easily satisfied with their entrepreneurial status much too soon in their career or those who limit the size of their dreams and ambition when it comes to business undertakings. Businesswomen need to be encouraged to build a room for bigger accomplishments and to play the game right till the end.

Female entrepreneurs who are advocates of India's dynamic entrepreneurship scene need to champion the cause of women empowerment in the work place to carve out an equal place for women in the business world. They need to encourage women from all fields to be bold and brave in their business decisions and motivate them to take over the Indian business scene by storm.

India's leading Bollywood actress, Anushka Sharma, understands that ageing is merciless in the film industry. She has therefore developed a keen interest in all related business sides of acting and established herself as a successful entrepreneur in the last few years. Her mind for business and numbers can put any IITian to shame. She believes that making a film is as enjoyable as acting in one and hence she pursues the different aspects of filmmaking with equal zeal. Her attitude is a source of inspiration to thousands of young women who are looking to make an entry and leave their mark in the business world which, even in 2017, is touted as a man's world.

Birbal was a smart man and we'd do good to partake in his wisdom. It is therefore advised to concentrate on your own business happenings rather than to focus your energies on how to overtake and undermine your competition.