Do away with past victories!

During the semester, every student was expected to come out with an innovative idea or artifact. Little Bob showed keen interest in this curriculum and spent majority of his time working on his idea. Little Bob would spend his lunch and rest hours chiseling the edges of his artifact. He was that perfectionist who left nothing to chance. During the nights when his colleagues sought refuge in the bewitching arms of sleep, Little Bob would wake up periodically to implement changes he seemed to have seen in his sleep.

The night prior to the day of exhibition, Little Bob literally spent the entire night polishing and perfecting his artifact until it began to glow in the dark. His artifact was well crafted into what looked like the Titanic, only this time cast and rendered in iron. Although much smaller, it was equally awe-inspiring. The resultant artifact was indeed a justification of the means. It was exquisite!

After what seemed to be a long night for Bob but a rather short one for his colleagues, morning finally gave the night away. His colleagues who were present for the exhibition felt demoralized when they perceived the masterpiece Little Bob held in his tender hands. It was mandatory of the school to grant its students the opportunity to display their works before invited guests, parents and school authorities. Little Bob did and Bob’s Titanic as it was eventually labelled, emerged winner.

Happy Little Bob raced to his Professor’s office to show his work to the man who inspired and urged him on.  He desired to share the good news with his professor and life coach. The professor, who was equally intrigued at what he saw took Bob’s Titanic in his firm hands and worshiped it. It was indeed stunning. A mirrored reflection of the original Titanic. 

The professor after admiring the masterpiece, placed it carefully on his study table, opened up his drawer, reached out for what appeared to be a hammer and in the presence of Little Bob, sunk the devilish tool into the glowing deck of Bob’s Titanic. Little Bob instantly felt his soul depart from his body. His fingers and legs grew numb and saliva drooled out of his open mouth. He was in a state of shock! His titanic, like the original has just been shattered with a single blow.

Little Bob regained his consciousness after several minutes and managed a “why professor?” in the most innocent and vulnerable of tones. The professor who felt no remorse but wore an unexpected smile on his face pattered Little Bob on the shoulder and said to him; “Go out there Little Bob and build more and more of this masterpiece. Should I have allowed you to keep it, you might spend your entire life admiring this success so much so that you might never learn to build another. With this piece gone son, channel the unsatisfied feeling you are experiencing into making a better and a much more pleasant piece. Learn also to treat your future artifacts like I have done to this. Do not literally smash it like I did! Do so mentally! Never cling to any or settle on any one of the pieces as your masterpiece. Always see the next piece as the masterpiece.” 

With his innocent face covered in tears, little Bob nodded slowly in agreement.

The only constant thing in this world is change and anyone who continually clings to past victories or failures defies the normal order of nature. Learn to look past your failures and even more, learn harder to look past your successes! Be your own competition striving to make the next product or idea better than the previous. Do not settle!

Always remember this; Even a fool can overcome an instance of defeat in his past but it takes a wise and mature mind to let go of past instances of triumph. 

Never settle!
Best Regards

Atsu Dogbey

(A Member of TDL)

Ink Ideas!