Are you an employee or an anetrepreneur?
I came across the below story and I could not help but think but
to share this with everyone. You might find this story quite
interesting. It is adapted from an audio segment by Robert
Kiyosaki, best selling author of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and allows
us to ponder whether a home based business is right for us as an
individual. Home based businesses are not for everyone.
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A Spring Runs Dry
The story is told of a spring that ran dry in a small mountain
village. The leaders gathered to determine how they would supply
the village with clean water. There was another spring and
reservoir about a mile away but was too far for the villagers to
travel.
One of the men volunteered to solve the problem by carrying
water into the village himself each morning for a set fee. Since
the need for water was clear, the leaders agreed to the offer
and determined a fair price for each bucket of water delivered.
Early the next morning the "bucket carrier" arose and began
transporting water. It was hard work but he was pleased with the
immediate pay for his efforts. He awoke each day and hurriedly
carried water. The more he delivered, the higher the pay.
As time went on, he began to think there had to be a better way.
So, he designed buckets that could hold more water and were
easier to carry. He bought better shoes and discovered a quicker
route between the reservoir and the village.
The problem was, despite all his improvements, the bucket
carrier still had to get up each day to carry water.
A Better Solution?
Some time later, another villager came forward with an offer to
supply water. He planned to build a pipeline from the reservoir
to the village.
The leaders were skeptical but eventually agreed to the
competing plan, especially since the new proposal would cost the
villagers less for the same amount of water. So, while the
bucket carrier continued his daily routine, the second man began
work on the pipeline.
The digging was tedious through the treacherous mountain
terrain. The necessary tools and materials proved costly but he
continued his work diligently for many months.
Finally, the "pipeline builder" installed the last piece of pipe
and ceremoniously opened the valve while a crowd gathered.
Everyone cheered as they watched clean water flow into the
village cistern.
How Things Changed!
The following day the two men's worlds changed dramatically.
The bucket carrier had to lower his prices significantly to
temain competitive. He worked harder and yet found himself
worrying about losing his job.
The pipeline builder, however, began enjoying the fruit of his
labor. He stopped working long days and began enjoying the
income his venture generated. He found the pipeline required
minimal maintenance, so he was free to spend his days fishing
the mountain streams and enjoying time with his kids.
Years Later
Many years later, after both men had died, the pipeline was
still an integral part of village life and the pipeline
builder's children continued to enjoy the benefits of a father's
entrepreneurial spirit.
Observations...
Bucket Carrier Description: Employee - Has a job Income Type:
Linear Income Effort: Constant Implications Time Poverty Reward:
Immediate gratification (paycheck) Examples: Construction
worker, Doctor, Secretary, Lawyer, etc.
Pipeline Builder Description: Entrepreneur - Owns a system
Income Type: Residual Income Effort: Intensive early with
minimal later Implications: Time Freedom Reward: Delayed
Gratification (fees for service or royalties) Examples: Author,
Inventor, Artist, Musician, Business Owner, Entrepreneur, etc.
Consider building a pipeline...
It doesn't matter how efficient you are at "carrying water"
(your job). Nor does it matter the size of your paycheck. Going
to work tomorrow, next week and ten years from now will still be
the prerequisite to collecting a paycheck....only a paycheck.
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I hope everyone enjoyed this story. It certainly makes the mind
ponder how we approach our income now-a-days. We certainly have
significant number of options and the technology allows us the
flexibility to be entrepreneurs from the comfort of our home.
Ccome join the art adventure at http://www.artideas4u.com