A farmer owned some land along the coast.
He was constantly advertising for hired hands.
Most people were reluctant to work on farms near the sea.
They feared the powerful storms that raged – the strong winds and heavy rain frequently destroyed buildings and harmed farm animals.
The farmer was getting desperate.
Then one day a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached him.
“Are you a reliable and resourceful worker?” the farmer asked him.
“Indeed I am for I can sleep when the wind blows,” replied the little man.
Bemused and a little puzzled by this answer, the farmer needed help urgently and so hired him.
The little man soon proved to be a hard worker and was busy on the farm from dawn to dusk. The farmer was very pleased.
Then one night the wind howled loudly in from the sea and sheets of rain fell from the blackened sky.
The farmer leaped out of bed grabbed a lamp and rushed next door to the hired hand’s bedsit.
He shook the little man and yelled, “Quickly! Wake up! The storm will soon be upon us! Tie things down before they blow away in the wind!”
The little man rolled over in his bed and said firmly, “No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.”
The farmer was furious and came close to firing the hired hand there and then. Instead, with no time to lose, he rushed into the farmyard to prepare for the storm. To his utter amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins and tied down with strong rope. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the barn doors were locked tight. The shutters on the barn windows were tightly secured. Everything was as it should be in preparation for a storm.
Nothing at all could blow away or be damaged. The farmer nodded and understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his own bed to also sleep while the wind blew.
“Expect the best prepare for the worst” is a well-known phrase. Situations and challenges that you will face on a daily basis can be difficult or easy. It all depends on how well prepared you are.
Can you do this? I think you can. Do you?
To your success…
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I’m passionate about inspiring people to tap into their unique talents and strengths – to be the best they can be – to fulfill the potential they always knew they had. It’s not about ‘fixing’ you. Rather, it’s about helping you access the best part of yourself so you’re able to make the changes, release the dragons and powerfully step into your brilliance.
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Mark Russell Inspired Performance Coaching – Dedicated to Your Success.
