A Perfectly Measured Death
Unlike typical plants, the Venus flytrap does not receive most of its required nutrients through surrounding soil but by capturing and consuming small insects and spiders. The plant attracts prey with its vibrantly coloured leaves and rich fruit smell. Once an insect lands on a portion of the open leaf’s two-lobed blades, a life and death scenario begins. The surface of the leaf’s blades are dotted with trigger hairs. If the insect touches any hair just once, nothing happens, but a second touch within 20 seconds activates the mechanism; the two blades rapidly close together, trapping the live food.
Now here’s what the trapped insect doesn’t know. If the bug doesn’t struggle and simply remains still, the blades will open in the morning, and it will be permitted to leave unharmed. This is because the flytrap has a built-in energy conservation system that allows the blades to re-set the snare if it was just debris that set off the trigger. Also, the blades’ outer edges are not smooth but have an interlocking fringe of “teeth” with gaps wide enough to allow small insects to exit; this allows the plant not to waste energy digesting something of low nutritional value.
The plant now enters the next stage; it monitors the activity inside the closed trap. If the insect triggers a fifth hair, the blades close fully shut, hermetically sealing the insect inside. The insect’s continued struggles communicate perfect information to the plant. The more the insect fights, the more digestive enzymes are released, the secretions being in ideal proportion to the job’s size.
Fortunately for the trapped prey, the hermetic seal cuts off oxygen, and the insect quickly dies of asphyxiation. The flytrap continues to release just enough digestive enzymes to consume its meal until it can’t “taste” any more of its kill. In about a week, the leaves re-open, allowing the dry husk of its victim to blow away; the trap reset for its next victim.
Insight and Application
This story demonstrates that mother nature is a master of economics, expending and conserving energy in proportion to the size of the job. The flytrap will only keep prey of sufficient nutritional value and then release enough enzymes to digest the insect it has captured. There is no overspend or waste in this process. Leaders can use the Venus flytrap as a metaphor for the economic deployment of resources, only pursuing goals of sufficient value while deploying measured resources for the task.
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This is a story in the new book I’m writing, Leadership Parables, which will feature leadership lessons in highly memorable short story form. But I need your help. If you remember an anecdote that influenced the way you think about business and leadership, let me know. If your suggestion is selected, you will receive a copy of the book and credit as a contributor. If you would like to know when the book is released, please add your name here. And, if you have an idea to share, please contact me at kurian@strategypeak.com.
This is a story in the new book I’m writing, Leadership Parables, which will feature leadership lessons in highly memorable short story form. But I need your help. If you remember an anecdote that influenced the way you think about business and leadership, tell me about it. If your suggestion is selected, you will receive a copy of the book and credit as a contributor. If you would like to know when the book is released, please add your name here. And, if you have an idea to share, please contact me at kurian@strategypeak.com.
Also, check out my first book, The 7 Essential Stories Charismatic Leaders Tell, click here: https://amzn.to/2PSHgmB
