UdyamGita

There are three most negative behaviors that will surely fail any business and destroy the entrepreneur. Lust, anger, and greed.

The entrepreneur who keeps these three negative qualities away masters the art of entrepreneurship by earning skills and knowledge with an open mind, and thus moves ahead on the path of entrepreneurship.

But an entrepreneur who works to fulfill his desires, is driven by desire, and does not follow the guidelines set for organizational systems and functioning will surely not attain success. He sets a wrong example in his own organization that self desire is more important and that rules and regulations can be manipulated and tweaked according to personal desire. As a result, everyone working for him becomes a replica of his behavior, and personal goals take precedence over organizational goals.

So it is advised to be the right example by walking on the path set by organizational rules and regulations, working for organizational goals while keeping personal goals aside, with the objective of uplifting and empowering people and systems.

Krishna now brings Chapter 16 to a clear, actionable closure. After describing the destructive consequences of the demoniac mindset, He simplifies the diagnosis to its core.

There are three gates that lead to self-destruction:

• Kāma — Lust (uncontrolled desire)
• Krodha — Anger (loss of emotional mastery)
• Lobha — Greed (insatiable accumulation)

Freedom from these three is not philosophical—it is practical liberation. Krishna further states that those who ignore guiding principles and act purely on impulse achieve neither success, nor happiness, nor higher fulfillment. Therefore, discipline and guiding frameworks must govern action.

Business Insight

In entrepreneurship, these three traits are the fastest ways to destroy both business and self.

• Lust pushes founders to chase shortcuts, status, and instant gratification
• Anger clouds judgment, damages culture, and creates fear-driven teams
• Greed shifts focus from value creation to extraction

An entrepreneur who consciously keeps these three in check begins to master the craft of entrepreneurship. With an open and grounded mind, such a leader invests in learning, builds systems, and grows steadily—without burning people or principles.

On the other hand, entrepreneurs driven by personal desire tend to bypass organizational rules, governance, and ethical boundaries. This sends a dangerous signal: rules are optional when power desires otherwise.

The result is predictable—every team member starts prioritizing personal goals over organizational purpose. Culture fragments. Systems weaken. Trust collapses.

Leadership Lesson

Leadership is taught more by example than by instruction.

When a founder violates rules for personal convenience:

• Discipline dissolves
• Accountability disappears
• Organizational goals lose meaning

Krishna’s guidance here is deeply managerial:

Frameworks, rules, and principles exist not to restrict leaders—but to protect them from their own impulses.

A strong leader walks the path set by organizational values, even when it is inconvenient. Personal desires are subordinated to collective purpose. The ultimate goal shifts from personal gain to uplifting people, strengthening systems, and building something that outlives the founder.

Key Takeaways

• Lust, anger, and greed are the three fastest destroyers of entrepreneurs and enterprises
• Mastery in entrepreneurship begins with mastery over personal impulses
• Ignoring rules for self-interest weakens culture and multiplies organizational decay
• Employees replicate the founder’s behavior—not the founder’s words
• Frameworks and principles protect leaders from short-term temptations
• Sustainable success comes from serving organizational purpose over personal desire
• Entrepreneurial liberation lies in discipline, not indulgence