There are days when we feel like less than our best. The choice to do excellent work is not at the same intensity every day. Some days are certainly easier than others. On bad days, we find it easy to give into the temptation of doing little or doing nothing. No matter how tough it is to stick to our goals, sticking to our deliverables always pays in the long term.
Let me share a story to illustrate this thought.
Once upon a time, in a prosperous city out west, there was a masterful carpenter who had dedicated his life to his craft. As his retirement approached, he dutifully submitted his resignation letter, but his boss was reluctant to see him go. There was a project yet to be completed, and the carpenter’s talents would be sorely missed.
With some coaxing, the carpenter agreed to take on one last project: to construct a new house. However, his heart was not in it, and he cut corners wherever he could, using cheap materials and shoddy workmanship. He was eager to retire and did not want to spend any more time than necessary on the job.
When he presented the finished product to his boss, the exterior looked pleasing enough, but the interior and foundation were compromised. To the carpenter’s surprise, his boss did not inspect the work but instead thanked him for his years of service and handed him the key to the newly built house.
Confused, the carpenter asked why his boss had given him the house. The boss replied, “I wanted to thank you for your dedicated service, and I figured the best way to show my appreciation was to give you a home that reflects the quality of work you’ve always done.”
This story reminds us that each day, we are building the foundation for our own lives and the legacy we leave behind. Every interaction we have, every choice we make, every lesson we learn, and every love we share contributes to the building of our future. Let us build wisely, with integrity, skill, and care, so that we may have a solid foundation upon which to build a fulfilling life.
“Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.” – Henry Ford.
Kind Regards,
Adeolu Akinyemi
