Hello Friends,

Every horse race has a first place winner and a runner-up, second place contender. It is not uncommon for the first place horse to earn twice the prize as the second place finisher. Curiously, the number one horse did not have to run twice as fast or go twice as far as the competition to get twice the money. It only had to be a nose ahead of the competition to reap twice the rewards. Most times most people compare themselves with others and lose the race. Here are two little stories which can teach us a lesson or two in trying to look at our strengths rather than comparing ourselves with the others.

"Every man is the architect of his own fortune." Sallust (86bc-34bc) Roman historian

Try with running engine

A mechanic was removing the cylinder heads from the motor of a car when he spotted the famous heart surgeon in his shop, who was standing off to the side, waiting for the service manager to come take a look at his car.

The mechanic shouted across the garage, "Hello Doctor! Please come on over here for a minute."

The famous surgeon, a bit surprised, walked over to the mechanic.

The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked argumentatively, "So doctor, look at this here. I also open hearts, take valves out, grind 'em, put in new parts, and when I finish this will work as a new one. So how come you get the big money, when you and me is doing basically the same work?"

The doctor leaned over and whispered to the mechanic "Try doing it with the running engine."

Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.

Barber & The King

The barber was giving a haircut to the king and as usually all barbers do, entered into a conversation with his master.

He told the King that he is so close to the King yet the king's minister is being paid a very much higher salary. Barber felt that to be rather unfair and wanted an explanation.

King said "Ok, I will give you a task which I would normally give the minister, for you to perform so that I could judge"

King told the barber "I understand that a ship has arrived in the harbor please brief me about it"

Barber ran to the harbor and came back and told the King Yes, Sir. There is a Ship!

King: When has it arrived?

Barber again ran to the harbor and returned to tell that the ship has arrived 2 days ago.

Barber had to run to the harbor several times to the harbor till the king got the required information such as from where the ship has come? What the ship has brought?, Who had come, What they would take back, when? At what Price etc, the Barber was extremely tired after making so many trips.

At this stage the King called his minister in the presence of his barber and gave him the same task. Minister made just one trip , came back and gave a report which contained all the information, the king had wanted to know.

King then told the barber "This should explain why the minister is paid a higher salary!!

Regards,
Kash