Water in the Desert
Humble Beginnings
Once upon a time, in a distant village, lived two skilled craftsmen: James and Alex. They were very good friends and loved to make objects out of clay. They made toys, pots, pans, cutlery, and much more.
However, because it was a small village, James and Alex earned very little for their work. People didn't have enough to pay them, but James and Alex never complained. At least not out loud.
"Ah, James, learn to focus on one thing at a time. You need to know your strengths. Once you understand how long it takes you to finish an item, you can give the next approximate delivery time to the next client."
"No, I'm fine, I'll manage. We need to make more items to earn more. Once I finish what I have left from yesterday, I'll take care of today's new orders."
"I understand your worry, my friend. But how will that happen if you don't deliver everything on time? This stresses me out."
"Ha ha ha! I'll manage, Alex, don't worry."
The Opportunity in the Desert
Alex was a determined and focused craftsman. Every time he worked on something, he finished it in time for delivery. He made sure to do one thing at a time. This helped him concentrate on the task at hand and finish the job on time.
But James wasn't focused at all. He never refused anyone and was constantly buried in work. He took many orders at once and never delivered on time.
One day, some tourists came to the village.
"Oh, wow! This elephant looks extraordinary! How much do you ask for it?" "It would cost two silver coins." "What? That much? Don't you think that's far too small a sum for this?" "Ah, that's about what we ask for everything around here. The villagers can't pay too much, and I can't ask you for more than I ask them." "I like your honesty. But you don't earn enough for your craft. There's a big city on the other side of the desert. Why don't you take all your items there to sell? People would surely be willing to pay more for your talent. You'll earn much better." "Oh, really? I'll think about that. Thank you!"
The girl paid two silver coins and bought the elephant. That night...
The Perilous Journey
"James, you look tired." "Ah! I haven't slept for two nights. I finished all my work. Now I feel great!" "Perfect. Listen. Do you think maybe we should take everything we make to the big city? We don't earn enough here, and the workload isn't too big." "I agree about the workload. Maybe you're right. But this is a big desert. How do we cross it?" "I've seen caravans crossing the desert every few days. There are many camels and carts. In fact, a caravan is leaving tomorrow. We can cross the desert with them." "True! I've heard there are many rich people on the other side of the desert. Ah! Maybe I'll find a beautiful bride and be happy ever after there. Who knows?" "Ha ha! True. Rest well now. You need to catch up on lost sleep. We're leaving tomorrow morning with the caravan."
That night, James and Alex slept peacefully. The next morning, they filled their cart with their crafted items, food, and lots of water. It was going to be a long journey, and they needed to be prepared.
The journey started on a good note. James and Alex were happy and confident about their future in another city. They talked about how they would earn more money, learn new things, and make more statues and objects.
The caravan stopped for lunch in the afternoon and then in the evening for dinner. The journey continued for a few more days, but the suffocating heat was unbearable.
"What's happening? Has it always been this hot?" "No, I don't think so. I need water." "We brought a lot of water, but it's running out now." "Ah! This heat is making our journey very difficult, James." "True. And we're running out of water."
The Search for Water
You see, the vessels the travelers carried were made of clay. The temperature rose sharply, and the water in the vessels was quickly absorbed.
"How will we survive if the water disappears? We still have two days to go until the city." "I have an idea. What if we start digging for water?" "Oh, yes! I'm sure if we dig deep enough, we'll find water somewhere." "Exactly! Let's choose a spot and start digging!"
The people took their camels and stopped at the chosen spot.
"Are you sure we'll find water here?" "We can only find out if we start digging deep enough."
The travelers began to dig a hole in the ground. Time passed, but there was no trace of water.
"I told you. It's useless. Finding water in the desert is almost impossible." "It's difficult, James, but not impossible. We just have to keep going."
Slowly, one by one, the travelers began to give up digging. They were all very tired. They returned to their carts and rested for a while.
"I'll come help you right away, okay? Just let me rest a bit." "Oh, James, I'm so tired. Maybe we should stop for a bit." "You go and rest. I'll dig a bit more."
Alex went to the cart and lay down to rest. Immediately, due to the overwhelming heat and physical exhaustion, he fell asleep.
The Lesson of Focus
After a while, a traveler came to James.
"Hey! You look strong. You've been digging non-stop. But, to be honest, I think we're wasting our time here." "What do you mean?" "I don't think there's water here. I know a place where we're sure to find water." "Really? Where?"
The traveler showed James a spot to dig and then went to rest in his cart. James dug a little, but found no water. After a while, another traveler came to him.
"Hey, who told you to dig here? Are you crazy? I know a place where we'll easily find an entire well." "Really? Where is this place?"
And so, James took his spade and went to dig another hole further away. Again, he dug a little before another traveler told him about yet another spot where he was sure to find water underground.
This went on for hours. The ground was full of holes, but none was deep enough to find water. When Alex woke up, he was shocked.
"James, what are you doing?" "I'm trying to find water. These travelers each gave me a suggestion about where I could find water. I've dug so many holes in the ground, but there's not a single drop of water." "That's exactly what I was worried about. Do you realize how much time and effort you've wasted? Go and count all the holes you've dug and how deep they are. You could have easily found water if you had focused all your effort in one place. You can't listen to everyone and lose your focus."
"Ah! You're right. I lost my purpose. I should have kept digging in one spot."
Success and the Moral
Alex called everyone and asked them to dig in the same spot where they had started. They dug for a while and, finally, found water.
"Yes! Finally! Yes!"
They all drank water and refilled their empty vessels. The caravan reached the city in two days. As expected, James and Alex earned well, thanks to their craftsmanship. People praised them, and their effort was appreciated. Soon, they became rich and hired other craftsmen to make the items. Their products were now sold in local and international markets.
James learned a very important lesson.
All this happened because I didn't lose my focus and did everything one step at a time.
