STORY - Following the leader: Is this true?

[Victor Yue]

Hi folks,
I have just received this email that uses an analogy of the caterpillars. I am
seeking your expertise advice again, is this true? And if so, what caterpillars
are these?

Thanks and with best regards,

Victor


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Following the Leader
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John Henry Fabre, the great French naturalist, conducted a most unusual
experiment with some processionary caterpillars.  These caterpillars
blindly follow the one in front of them.  Hence, the name.  Fabre carefully
arranged them in a circle around the rim of a flowerpot, so that the lead
caterpillar actually touched the last one, making a complete circle.  In
the center of the flowerpot he put pine needles, which is the food of the
processionary caterpillar.  The caterpillars started around this circular
flowerpot.

Around and around they went, hour after hour, day after day, night after
night.  For seven full days and seven full nights, they went around the
flowerpot.  Finally, they dropped dead of starvation and exhaustion.  With
an abundance of food less than six inches away, they literally starved to
death, because they confused activity with accomplishment.

Many people make the same mistake and, as a result, reap only a small
fraction of the harvest life has to offer.  Despite the fact that untold
wealth lies within reach, they acquire very little of it because they
blindly, without question, follow the crowd in a circle to nowhere.  They
follow methods and procedures for no other reason than "It's always been
done that way."

Zig Ziglar