User
Retell Zen’s ox taming parable for modern US audiences
Assistant
THE OX: A Modern Parable of Self-Discovery
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Maya: Degree: Check. Internships: Check. Network: Check. So why does every door feel locked? Six months of searching. Forty-three applications. Two interviews. Zero offers.
Maya: Another day. Another chance. Maya: Everyone else seems to know something I don’t. Maya: They’re all moving forward. I’m stuck.
Maya: Wait. This is it. This has to be it. Maya: I can feel it. Everything’s about to change. Picture 1: The Search. You don’t know what you’re looking for, only that you need to find it.
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Patricia: Your portfolio is impressive. Tell me—why do you want to work here? Maya: Because this is where I want to build my career. This is the best company in the industry. Maya: I’m ready to prove myself. I’ll do whatever it takes. Patricia: We like that energy. We’ll be in touch.
Patricia: We’d like to offer you the position. Salary is $65,000, plus benefits. Maya: Yes. Yes, absolutely. Thank you so much. Picture 2: First Glimpse. You see the ox in the distance. It’s real. It’s yours.
Maya: I did it. I’m finally here. David: Welcome to the team. Fair warning—it’s intense here. But if you want to move up, this is the place. Maya: I’m ready. She doesn’t know yet that the ox is not what she thinks it is.
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Maya: Just one more report. One more analysis. Maya: If I work harder than everyone else, I’ll get noticed. I’ll get promoted. Maya: No time for this. There’s too much to do.
David: Your work on the Henderson campaign was exceptional. We’re promoting you to Senior Associate. Congratulations. Maya: Thank you. I won’t let you down. I’m ready for more responsibility. Picture 3: Catching. You’ve glimpsed the ox. Now you’re running after it with all your might.
Sarah: …and then I told him that we can’t just chase profit, we have to think about impact. You know? Maya: Mm-hmm. Sorry, what? My boss just texted. Maya: I’ll clean up this weekend. I’ll call my parents this weekend. I’ll sleep this weekend. Maya: Is this what success looks like?
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Maya: …and this approach will increase engagement by 23% while reducing customer acquisition cost by 15%. Executive: Excellent work, Maya. This is exactly what we needed. She’s winning. So why does it feel like losing?
Maya: That’s… James? From that conference? He looks so… calm. Maya: James? We met at the tech conference last year. I’m Maya. James: Of course. I remember. Please, sit. James: You look like you’re carrying something heavy. Maya: I… I’m doing great, actually. Just got promoted. James: Congratulations. But that’s not what I asked.
James: Tell me—when you imagine your life five years from now, what do you see? Maya: I see… I see myself as a director. Maybe a VP. Leading a team. Maya: I see myself successful. Respected. Making good money. James: And when you imagine that, how do you feel? Maya: I… I don’t know. Relieved? Validated? James: Not happy? Maya: … Picture 4: Taming. You begin to wonder if the ox is what you really want to catch.
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Maya: It’s okay to leave. The work will still be here tomorrow. Maya: When did I stop taking care of myself? Maya’s Mom: …and your father wants to know when you’re coming home for a visit. Maya: Soon, Mom. I promise. I miss you guys.
Maya: This is good work. I’m proud of this. Team Member: What if we approached it from the customer’s perspective instead of the brand’s? Maya: I like that. Tell me more. Executive: This is brilliant, Maya. How did you come up with this? Maya: My team did. I just helped them see what was already there. Picture 5: Riding. You’ve learned to work with the ox, not against it. You move together.
David: You’ve earned this. Your team respects you. Your work is excellent. Congratulations, Manager Chen. Maya: This is good. But it’s not everything. Sarah: I’m so proud of you. You deserve this. Maya: Thanks. But I’m starting to realize I deserve a lot of things. And none of them are on a business card.
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Maya: When did I stop being this person? When did I become just my job? Maya’s Mom: You used to love cooking. You were always in the kitchen. Maya: I forgot. I actually forgot. Picture 6: Coming Home. You remember what you were before you started chasing.
Maya: I spent so much time trying to get here. But is ‘here’ where I want to be? Derek: I don’t care if it’s 11 PM, I need those numbers now! Maya: That’s going to be me in five years if I keep going like this. Maya: I have a choice. I can keep running, or I can stop and ask myself what I actually want.
Maya: I’ve been thinking about what you said. About how I felt when I imagined my future. James: And? Maya: I realized I was chasing someone else’s dream. Not mine. I don’t even know what my dream is anymore. James: That’s the beginning of wisdom. Not knowing. Are you ready to find out? Maya: I think so. I’m scared, but yes. Picture 7: Forgetting the Ox. You stop chasing and start asking.
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Meditation Teacher: Notice your thoughts without judgment. Let them pass like clouds. Maya: It doesn’t matter who gets the credit. The work is good. That’s enough. Maya: I don’t need to be everywhere. I don’t need to know everyone. I just need to be present where I am.
Maya: I don’t need more. I need less. Less noise, less stuff, less distraction. Vendor: You come here every week now. I like that. Most people are always rushing. Maya: I’m learning to slow down. Sarah: You seem different. Lighter. Maya: I feel different. Like I finally stopped holding my breath.
David: You’re on track for VP in three years. Maybe less. You’re one of our top performers. Maya: David, can I ask you something? Are you happy? David: What? Of course. I’m successful. Maya: That’s not what I asked. Picture 8: Forgetting the Herder. You realize the one chasing the ox was never real either.
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Maya: I’m not my job title. I’m not my salary. I’m not my achievements. So who am I? Therapist: It sounds like you’ve been living for external validation. What would it feel like to live for internal peace? Maya: Terrifying. And also… liberating? Maya: I’ve been so focused on getting somewhere that I forgot to notice where I am.
Maya: I have no title right now. No achievement to point to. No one to impress. And I’m still here. I’m still me. Maya: The world doesn’t care about my promotion. The universe doesn’t care about my salary. And somehow, that’s okay. Picture 9: Return to Source. You’ve let go of everything you thought you were. Now you discover what you actually are.
Maya: Good morning. I’m alive. That’s enough. Maya: I’ll go to work. I’ll do good work. But I won’t let it define me. Junior Colleague: Thank you so much for helping me. You’re amazing. Maya: You’re welcome. We’re all just trying to do good work.
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Maya: I’ve been thinking about my future. I want to step back from the management track. David: What? Why? You’re on your way to VP. Maya: Because I realized I don’t want to be VP. I want to do meaningful work. I want to have time for my life. I want to be happy. David: But you’re so close to everything you’ve been working for. Maya: I know. And I’m choosing something else.
Maya: This is better. I’m doing good work without sacrificing my life. Maya: I forgot what it felt like to do something just because I wanted to. James: You look different. Lighter. Maya: I feel different. I finally stopped running.
Maya: I used to think this was a waste of time. Now I know it’s the most important thing I do. Sarah: I want what you have. How did you find it? Maya: I stopped looking for it. I stopped looking for anything. And then I found everything. Picture 10: In the Marketplace. You’ve returned to the world, but you’re no longer of it. You’re free.
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Maya: …and this approach will create value for both the company and our customers. It’s the right thing to do. Colleague: That was brilliant, Maya. Maya: Thank you. I’m glad it resonated. Maya: I did good work today. Now I’m going to live my life.
Maya: I take care of myself because I love myself, not because I’m trying to optimize my productivity. Maya’s Mom: It’s so good to have you here. Really here. Maya: I’m sorry it took me so long to figure out how to be present. Maya: This is what I was looking for. Not success. Not achievement. Connection. Purpose. Service.
Young Professional: You seem so calm. How do you do it? How do you balance everything? Maya: I stopped trying to balance. I stopped trying to do everything. I just do what’s in front of me, with full attention. Maya: The thing you’re chasing—success, achievement, validation—it’s real. But it’s not what you think it is. And it’s not what will make you happy. Young Professional: So what will? Maya: Showing up. Being present. Doing good work. Loving the people in your life. That’s it. Picture 10: In the Marketplace. You’ve returned with empty hands and a full heart. You work, you love, you serve. And you are free.
Topics
{career and professional development}-job search,career advancement,promotion,management track,work performance,professional ambition{self-discovery and personal growth}-identity beyond career,self-awareness,finding purpose,personal values,life direction,authenticity{work-life balance}-burnout,overwork,time management,self-care,presence,life priorities{happiness and fulfillment}-external validation,internal peace,meaning,contentment,freedom,well-being{relationships and connection}-family,friendships,mentorship,community,service to others{mindfulness and spirituality}-meditation,letting go,acceptance,wisdom,return to source