The Importance of Your Boss's Inner Circle

Being in the good books of your boss is important.
Being in the good books of those who are close to your boss is also equally important, like the driver, PA, even the peon who carries his lunch or cleans his table.
This story from Panchatantra is a clear example of this.

There was a businessman, very popular and close to the king.
The king was impressed by him and he was appointed the Mayor of the city.
During his daughter's wedding, he organized a grand feast for the whole.
There was a separate session for the king and everyone from the palace.
In that feast, a sweeper went and sat among the dignitaries.
It was an unpardonable misdemeanor those days.
The Mayor caught him by his collar and threw him out.
The sweeper felt very bad, insulted.
He wanted to take revenge.
One day, he was sweeping the king's chamber when the king was sleeping.
The king was only half asleep.
The sweeper mumbled, 'But the Mayor should never have misbehaved with the queen like that. The king trusted him so much,,,,'
The king heard this.
He got up and asked the sweeper what he said.
'Oh! your majesty, did I say something? I don't remember. I am in half sleep. We played cards till late night and I couldn't sleep well. Pardon, me.'
But his words never went out of the king's mind.
He had allowed the Mayor so much freedom inside the palace.
What if he was really having an affair with the queen.
The king became restless.
He dismissed the Mayor from his position.

The Mayor came to the gate of the palace.
The guards stopped him.
As he insisted on meeting the king, the sweeper who was standing there commented, 'these days anybody can get caught by the collar and thrown out.'
The Mayor went away realizing that the sweeper's revenge must have been behind his downfall.

He invited the sweeper home, threw him a big treat, gave him a lot of gifts, and apologized.
He requested the sweeper to help him get back his position.

The next day, again the sweeper was in the king's chamber sweeping.
He mumbled, 'It is a disgrace for the whole kingdom to have such a king. He eats snacks inside the toilet while attending nature's call.'
This time the king pretended that he was sleeping.
But he thought, 'How could I be so stupid? I trusted the words of this crazy fellow.'

He reinstated the Mayor.

See the power of people who are close to or move about near bosses.
They can make or break your career.