A white whale is a myth, but the real story is a whole different matter. In the case of Enron, for example, the goal was to make as much money as possible without actually creating any. In this case, the managers prioritized their bureaucracy over their mission. The white whale was a myth. It is the goal of those in power that drives these businesses. This is an important distinction to keep in mind, and understanding its true meaning will help us avoid similar mistakes in the future.
White whales are mythical creatures. The name is derived from the Greek word for "white," which means "great". It is a mighty creature that is considered an object of worship by some religions. However, many people consider it to be a metaphor for God or the devil. Moreover, the white whale is often misinterpreted as a manifestation of white imperialism or the insatiable human desire to exploit nature.
Some interpret the white whale as a symbol of success and wealth. Ahab's obsession with the whale is an attempt to combat the senselessness of the world and find a life-purpose. In this version, senior leaders and boards provide a framework of thinking without values or boundaries. This leads to baffling decisions from the ranks of the organization. The bottom 99% of employees in the organization are completely oblivious to this aspect of the myth, but senior managers can easily maintain a façade of innocence and propagate a good goal.
The white whale can also refer to an extreme, insular goal. The aim can be so narrow that it is obscene or distorted by proxy. The second version of the white whale can be destructive to relationships, professionalism, and self-esteem. A white whale can be a fanciful pursuit of money, power, position, prestige, or a moral high ground. Despite its ubiquity, it can destroy a relationship and sabotaging the real performance of a person.
The white whale is a mythical animal. It is an elusive animal that many people would kill to find. A pirate called Ahab was obsessed with the white whale and destroyed everything around him. While a white whale may be only one, it could represent many other types of creatures. Ahab's obsession with the white whale was as dangerous as the shark, a dangerously savage to his crew and the rest of the world.
A white whale is a mythical creature that can be dangerous to the lives of those who have it. It can also refer to a specific animal or species. In the first instance, a white whale is a fictional animal, but it can also refer to an ill-defined species. A whale can be an imaginary creature, or a person's obsession can be a physical being. Regardless of the meaning, a white whale is a myth.