You probably have heard the story before because it is a classic reflection of how we perceive ourselves in an office environment.

The pests in the household got together one day and decided to hold a major meeting to discuss their survival problems.

The roaches, the flies, the mosquitoes, silverfish, fleas and wasps, bed bugs, ants, they arrived on time and the meeting was called to order.

Someone said, one second, where’s the gekko lizard?

They all looked up and saw the lizard on the ceiling.

Come on down, they said, we are waiting for you to get started.

Can’t, said the lizard, you’ll have to do without me.

But we need you, said the group, get down now, this very instant.

Are you all blind, snapped the lizard, if I come down now, who will keep the roof up, fine mess you’ll be when it comes crashing down.

There are people like this lizard. People we meet every day.

Indispensable people. Believing that without them things won’t work, things will come crashing down, systems collapse. And you look at them and say, the first lesson you learn wherever you are is that no one is indispensable. There is always someone ready to takeover...at less cost and probably with better result.

Now, there is nothing wrong in having our illusions but so many of us stick to the ceiling in our upside down fashion and actually believe we are holding up the roof.

All too often the position we hold or the wealth we have accessed leads us into even a deeper delusion about our role in the great scheme of things.

Remember one thing wherever you are on the corporate ladder. There is always someone else ready to take your place.

And then recall the five cardinal rules of the work ethos survival package.

People who can do as well as you for less will always be available.

People who can do better than you will line up at the door.

Your colleagues will write you off about ten minutes after you have left and the odds are they will also betray you.

Never think that you hold all the cards…you can be outwitted, outbid, outplayed before you know it.

Do not waste time creating situations where you believe your absence will cause problems. For every mine you lay there is a minesweeper to defuse it.

Do not conspire with colleagues against the boss. You’ll lose and then wonder why you are having an exit interview.