【商業智慧】憑功夫片領悟營商之道？Alex Krap最喜歡商業電影：《少林三十六房》 Learn from a Kung Fu Movie? Alex Karp's Favorite Business Film is 'The 36th Chamber of Shaolin'
美國數據分析公司Palantir的技術總監Shyam Sankar曾在一個podcast節目上，分享了該公司的行政總裁兼創辦人Alex Krap最喜歡的一套商業電影是經典港產功夫片《少林三十六房》。近日Sankar撰文，再次談及此事。 從podcast與文章，我們能夠窺探Alex Krap的商業哲學及Palantir的創新之道。
《少林三十六房》的故事圍繞着主角劉裕德，他因反清而導致家破人亡，須逃亡至少林寺避難，獲收留賜法名三德。三德從少林寺第三十五房開始修練武藝，歷經諸多挑戰及下山復仇後，最終創立了專收俗家弟子的少林寺三十六房。
Sankar在podcast節目上指，《少林三十六房》的主題是「努力了解世界並產生重大影響」（striving to understand the world and make a significant impact），這與Krap的商業取態並產生共嗚。
而Sankar在最新的文章上，再度談及Krap及該電影，以及與創新的關係。Sankar指Krap曾表示《少林三十六房》教會他，即使已經努力奮鬥到職涯「頂峰」—— 成為公司的CEO，仍然需要開創專屬自己的「第三十六房」。
Sankar對電影的解讀是，當主角劉裕德在電影裏完成了傳統上全部三十五房的挑戰，前進之路只餘下顛覆傳統，開創「第三十六房」，為天下人將功夫「民主化」（democratize Kung Fu）。Sankar續指，在這個顛覆時刻，你需要審視自己的行動是否像一個固步自封的「守門人」（gatekeeper），還是為「顛覆分子」（insurgent）改變遊戲規則。「顛覆」便是最頂尖的一房。
Palantir’s CTO, Shyam Sankar, previously shared on a podcast that the company’s CEO and founder, Alex Karp, is a big fan of the classic Hong Kong kung fu film, 'The 36th Chamber of Shaolin'. Sankar recently wrote an article delvin g deeper into this topic. From the podcast and the article, we can have a look on Karp’s business philosophy and Palantir’s way to innovate.
‘The 36th Chamber of Shaolin’ revolves around Liu, who seeks refuge in the Shaolin Temple after his family is destroyed in his attempt to resist the Manchu ruling. Starting from the 35th chamber, Liu undergoes rigorous training on Martial Arts, eventually founding the 36th chamber, which can teach Martial Arts to the public but not just monks.
Sankar mentioned on the podcast that the film’s theme of ‘striving to understand the world and make a significant impact’ resonates with Karp’s business philosophy.
In his latest article, Sankar further elaborates on Karp’s connection to the film and innovation. According to Sankar, Karp believes that even after reaching the pinnacle of one's career – becoming a CEO, for instance – one must continuously strive to create their own "36th chamber".
Sankar interprets the film as follows: When Liu completes to challenge the traditional 35 chambers, the only path forward is to “insurgent” and create a new "36th chamber" to democratize Kung Fu for the masses. Sankar argues that at this pivotal moment, one must examine whether they're acting as a "gatekeeper" who stand in the way of "insurgent", or they have change the rules for the "insurgent”. “Insurgency" is the pinnacle chamber.