In a quaint village nestled between rolling hills, there existed an extraordinary friendship between two inseparable pals, Jake and Sam. Their favorite pastime was lounging beneath the shade of an ancient oak tree, contemplating the meaning of life and their purpose in the world. Little did they realize that while they pondered, time slipped away like grains of sand through their fingers.
One fateful day, as the duo idly observed the women of the village trudging back and forth from the distant river, hauling water pots that seemed to grow heavier with each step, a spark of inspiration ignited in their minds. What if they could alleviate this burden for the villagers and make a tidy profit?
Pooling their meager resources, Jake and Sam proposed a deal to the women: they would fetch water on their behalf for a mere 25 cents per pot. The villagers, tired of the arduous trek to the river, embraced the offer with open arms. The two friends found themselves ferrying pots at an astonishing rate, from dawn till dusk, their business thriving like never before.
A decade rolled by, and Jake and Sam found themselves atop a mountain of wealth. Their pockets jingled with coins, and their names echoed through the neighboring villages as the wealthiest men around. Life was seemingly perfect, and the duo reveled in their success, blissfully unaware of the passage of time.
However, amidst the abundance and prosperity, a lingering concern crept into Jake’s mind. He realized the inexorable march of time would eventually rob them of their youthful vigor. Troubled by this thought, he approached Sam with a suggestion — to find an alternative means of securing their future.
Sam, however, dismissed the idea, content with the present and unconcerned about the uncertainties of the future. “Why worry?” he proclaimed. “We’re at the pinnacle of success; let’s savor the moment!”
But Jake’s persistent worry led him to explore options. During a visit to a neighboring village, he stumbled upon a potter crafting pots, one of which caught his eye. It had a long, narrow neck. An idea sparked within him — what if they could create a massive clay pipe to bring water to the village?
Sam scoffed at the seemingly impractical notion. He presented countless arguments against the feasibility of a clay pipe, but Jake remained resolute. He insisted on giving it a try, armed with the belief that attempting something new was better than settling into stagnation.
The ambitious project commenced, fraught with challenges. The clay pipe broke numerous times, and setbacks seemed insurmountable. Yet, Jake’s unwavering determination pushed the endeavor forward. After months of trial and error, the clay pipe was finally in place, and water began flowing into the village at an unprecedented rate.
Now, Jake could provide thousands of pots each day, and he decided to slash the price to a mere 10 cents per pot. Income streamed into Jake’s pocket, while Sam found himself jobless. Who would pay 25 cents for a pot when they could acquire one for 10 cents?
This tale teaches a valuable lesson — don’t fear failure; fear the reluctance to try. Doing nothing guarantees nothing, but taking action doubles your chances of success. The odds of failure or success may be uncertain, but the act of trying transforms the once daunting 0% into a promising 50%.
