During my school days, I read the story of a King who went on an extensive trip across his kingdom! When he returned back to the luxuries of his palace, he complained that his feet were aching. It was the first time that he had been on such a long trip, and the road that he walked on was uneven and rocky. Yet, as he had enjoyed the travel, he told his courtiers of his wish to travel again.
Immediately the learned court consultant suggested that every road in the kingdom be covered with leather. All the courtiers complimented and applauded the plan. However, the king noticed his court jester smirking. Upon being ordered to speak his mind, the jester said, ‘just cut a little piece of leather to cover your feet… spend the money instead on making shoes for everybody who travels on the rough roads!’
It is pertinent to note that situations are better transformed not by attempts to change circumstances superficially, but by empowering persons to tackle those circumstances. The larger lesson is that for planning to be better, it must focus on the traveller rather than the road, on the driver rather than the vehicle, on the farmer rather than the food industry, on existent sustainability rather than vague magnificence.
The story also underlines a valuable lesson of life… of starting with basics. It is all about transforming our own efforts and actions to achieve the desired results. Let us remember that instead of investing too much hope and effort in altering the larger predicament, let’s be better at making basic transformations.
The feet come first, the road comes later…
at starting with basics, we must BE BETTER!
- Pravin K. Sabnis
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