Willingness makes the difference.

 Willingness makes the difference.

There was a boatman who owned a boat with two oars, but he refused to transport people across the lake, due to his laziness. In contrast, there was another boatman who had a sailable boat but lacked oars and refused to transport passengers because of the unavailability of oars.

One day, a young man, who had the ability and willingness to row a boat but didn't own one, saw both boatmen and decided to strike a deal. He approached the first boatman and asked to rent his oars for the day, then went to the second boatman to rent his boat for the same period. Both boatmen agreed, and the young man then transported people across the lake, continuing his work until nightfall.

The next morning, he returned and handed over the agreed money to both boatmen. The first boatman smiled and remarked, "My oars can make me money," while the second boatman took pride in saying, "I can sit and make money by renting my boat."

Both boatmen liked the idea of sitting back and earning money, so they decided to continue the arrangement. However, as time passed, they began to feel the pinch of dwindling revenue; their oars were getting old, and the boat was also ageing. Eventually, they agreed to stop renting their oars and boat starting the next day. To their surprise, they saw a new boat and a set of oars at the jetty, along with the young man.

The young man approached both boatmen and said, "From now on, I won't need your boat and oars," and he began using his new, more attractive boat, which attracted more passengers. Meanwhile, the two older boatmen struggled to attract customers and lacked the funds to refurbish or purchase new equipment.

Now, let’s relate this story of the boatmen to our lives. Some people are like the first boatman: they possess the ability and knowledge (the boat) and skills (the oars), but are hindered by laziness, which affects their willingness to act. These individuals gradually fade away as unused skills and knowledge become rusty and irrelevant.

Others are like the second boatman: they have the willingness to work but lack the necessary skills and knowledge (the oars). Instead of seeking ways to improve their capabilities, they give up. If the second boatman had borrowed the oars from the first, the third boatman would not have come into the picture.

Then there are those, like the third young man, who may not initially possess the ability, skills, or knowledge, but who do have an eagerness to learn, innovate, and move forward. These are the individuals who make a significant difference in people's lives.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter whether you have resources; with an entrepreneurial mindset, you can carve your path and create a more straightforward route to success.

M.L. Narendra Kumar