7 Pillars of a Business - As told by Chanakya in the Arthashastra

A strong foundation is the key to any successful business. Your vision, your commitment,
your purpose - all form the basis for an organization. They are the all-important pillars, the
most essential part of any building. In his groundbreaking Arthashastra, Chanakya a.k.a.
Kautilya (c. 350 - 283 BCE) lists seven pillars for an organization.
"The king, the minister, the country, the fortified city, the treasury, the army and the ally
are the constituent elements of the state" (6.1.1)
Let us now take a closer look at each of them:
1. THE KING (The leader)
All great organizations have great leaders. The leader is the visionary, the captain, the
man who guides the organization. In today's corporate world we call him the Director,
CEO, etc. Without him we will lose direction.
2. THE MINISTER (The manager)
The manager is the person who runs the show - the second-in-command of an
organization. He is also the person whom you can depend upon in the absence of the
leader. He is the man who is always in action. An extra ordinary leader and an efficient
manager together bring into existence a remarkable organization.
3. THE COUNTRY (Your market)
No business can exist without its market capitalization. It is the area of your operation. The
place from where you get your revenue and cash flow. You basically dominate this
territory and would like to keep your monopoly in this segment.
4. THE FORTIFID CITY (Head office)
You need a control tower - a place from where all planning and strategies are made. It's
from here that your central administrative work is done. It's the nucleus and the center of
any organization.
5. THE TREASURY
Finance is an extremely important resource. It is the backbone of any business. A strong
and well-managed treasury is the heart of any organization. Your treasury is also your
financial hub.
6. THE ARMY (Your team)
When we go to war, we need a well-equipped and trained army. The army consists of
your team members. Those who are ready to fight for the organization. The salesmen, the
accountant, the driver, the peon - all of them add to your team.
7. THE ALLY (friend / consultant)
In life you should have a friend who is just like you. Being, in the same boat, he can
identify with you and stay close. He is the one whom you can depend upon when
problems arise. After all, a friend in need is a friend in deed.
Look at these seven pillars. Only when these are built into firm and strong sections can
the organization shoulder any responsibility and face all challenges.
And while building them, do not forget to imbibe that vital ingredient called values,
speaking about which, in his book 'Build to last', Jim Collins has said, "Values are the roots
from where an organization continuously gets its supply as well as grounding - build on
them.