THE PRICE OF SUCCESS IS HARD WORK

Good day readers. I would like to illustrate today’s post with an old story whose Author is Unknown.

There is a peasant who used to say to his children when they were young: “When you all reach the age of 12, I will tell you the secret of life.”

One day when the oldest turned 12, he anxiously asked his father what the secret of life was.

The father replied that he was going to tell him, but that he should not reveal it to his brothers.

“The secret of life is this: The cow does not give milk.” “What are you saying?” asked the boy incredulously.

“As you hear it, son: The cow does not give milk, you have to milk it. You have to get up at 4 in the morning, go to the field, walk through the corral full of manure, tie the tail, hobble the legs of the cow, sit on the stool, place the bucket and do the work yourself.”

“That is the secret of life, the cow does not give milk. You milk her or you don’t get milk.”

What are the benefits of this story to us today?

There is this generation that thinks that cows GIVE milk. They believe that things are automatic and free: their mentality is that if I wish, I ask, I obtain.

They have been accustomed to getting whatever they want the easy way… but no, life is not a matter of wishing, asking, and obtaining.

The things that one receives are the effort of what one does… Yes, it is that simple.

Before we conclude, I need you to answer the questions below objectively:

1. Do I belong to this generation described above?
2. Am I not breeding this generation?
3. How have I contributed to building such a generation?
4. Should not I provide for all my children’s needs?
5. How could I say no to my children’s request?
6. How can I make my children happy, if I am not providing all their wants?

The answers to all these questions are personal to all of us. Now that you have your answers ready. I will conclude by saying:

Happiness is the result of effort. Lack of effort creates frustration.

So, share with your children, from a young age, the secret of life, so they don’t grow up with the mentality that the government, their parents, or their cute little faces are going to give them everything they need in life. Teach them that entitlements to life’s comforts are a misconceived notion.

Remember – “Cows don’t give milk. You have to work for it.” ~ Author Unknown

I would also recommend that you consult a book titled Cows Don’t Give Milk by Promod Batra, who was a visionary in the field of management.

Now, let me share some learnings about life, you can get from milking a cow. How can we apply the lessons in our lives?

From the story you already know that the cow will not meet you at the fence, milk already in a container, begging you to take her gift. This is the truth.

First lesson: Cows don’t give milk. You have to go out of your way to take it.
Life Application: Prosperity doesn’t just come to you. You have to make it happen. You have to have an objective, plan, prepare and go for it.

Then, as you get to the cow to start taking the milk, you will make two other discoveries.

Second lesson: Cows don’t like cold hands. Life Application: People with a warm touch have greater success.

As humans evolved into the most social of primates, touch became an even richer language enabling moral ties with others. Touch is a powerful, direct means by which we give to others. Empirical studies find that the right kind of touch, the reassuring pat on the back or warm embrace, elicits in the recipient the release of oxytocin, a neurochemical that promotes trust and co-operation. A soft touch to the arm elicits activation in the orbitofrontal cortex, a region of your frontal lobes that signals expected rewards of an action. Warm, friendly touches of appreciation make others feel esteemed, valued and good.

Warm, friendly patterns of touch also calm down the recipient’s neurophysiology of stress. In one study, simply holding the hand of a loved one deactivated stress-related regions of the brain when anticipating going through a stressful experience. Cow is not an exception when it comes to warn touches. She dislikes cold hands,

Third lesson: Cow will only kick the bucket over when it is almost full. Life Application: Bad things will happen — and at the worst of times. So be prepared and do be caught unaware.

The fourth lesson might be a little bit difficult for city folk to understand, you have to picture yourself sitting on a milking stool, tugging away, your mind off on some distant subject. Just then the cow decides to swat a fly with her tail. Unfortunately, the side of your head is directly in her trajectory. That is when you learn:

Fourth lesson: Forget the horns — it is the tail that hurts. Life Application: What you watch for is never what blindsides you.

This is about risk assessment and uncertainty analysis in a life journey. It is not automatic that every graduate will secure a good-paying job. It is not normal that all marriages will produce children from conjugal relationships of the couples.

In that same instant you discover and learn:

Fifth lesson: You cannot move very fast seated on a stool.
Life Application: Once you sit down, you are at the mercy of the world. Wake up, stand up, take a walk, start and keep moving. Know when to sit, stand and move.

Then the final two lessons:

Sixth lesson: When the cow says you are finished, you are finished.
Life Application: Accept what you cannot control and get on with your life. You cannot have it all.

Seventh lesson: Milk comes from the back end of cows. So does other stuff.
Life Application: Positioning is everything. Learn, understand and position yourself for the next right opportunity. There would know times to prepare and reposition yourself when the opportunity does not meet your already prepared.

Conclusively, I hope we have learned something very important; one has to strive hard for whatever one needs in life – Spiritual, Professional, Personal, and others.

Thank you and remember to like, follow, share and comment.

Written by HayRhay.