Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for jobs in his farm. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.
As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man named Jacob, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him.
The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the Jacob's sleeping quarters.
He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!" The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows."
Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.
🌱 Lesson
How proactively do we handle challenges or problems at work or do we react and start moving only when the storm comes? We should be ready for the downturns, challenges and obstacles that will come across in our journey of life and be prepared to deal with them in advance, rather than reacting when they occur.
“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” — H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
🪞 Reflection
Can we sleep when the winds of the uncertainty blows? How prepared am I for unexpected challenges in my personal or professional life? What ‘storms’ have I weathered in the past, and what helped me stay grounded then?
ℹ️ Disclaimer
This story is part of a collection of anonymous parables and inspirational tales gathered over time. The original author is unknown. If this story belongs to you, we’d love to give credit—please reach out.
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