In business, to grow more, serve more.
After a time of seeking direction for his life’s work, a young man made the decision to pursue carpentry. It seemed the right direction and certainly, he found great fulfillment in the craft. He showed promise and as his skill increased, so too did the affluence of his clients. For a while, he was happy and felt certain of his path.
Having grown up with little means, he dreamed of freedom brought by great success. He envisioned building up his own workshop, in which he would employ a team of loyal carpenters who would produce wondrous works. He held this vision in great detail, right down to the dust motes he could see in the air as the morning sun warmed his workbench. He loved his dream.
After several years had passed, however, the young man began to feel he was going about his business in error. This troubled him, as his business was more successful than ever. He employed a small team of very talented carpenters and his clients were regularly delighted with his store’s work. His customers represented some of the most well-established in the city. Yet the young man felt there must be something wrong. After all, the freedom he sought seemed to be slipping further and further away with every new project. He found himself working long hours, staying up late into the night. More, it appeared the business was completely dependent upon him, and were he to disappear, the business would quickly follow.
The carpenter said to himself, “This is not freedom. I have less freedom now than when I began. I understand sacrificing in the present to realize a future gain, but it seems the faster this river flows, the harder it is to reach shore.”
“My goal must be to benefit from the flow of business without being submerged in the flow of business. How do I get there?” he pondered. “Even though I have a strong team under me, I am still trading my time for money–we all are. More, even if I find a way out, what becomes of my team? I must not only find a way out for myself, but for my team as well.”
Happening by, a vagabond overheard the young carpenter’s lament and stopped to inquire. “How do you earn money?” he asked.
The carpenter, amused, thought this was an ironic question from a vagabond. He answered, “I shape wood into beautiful and useful things.”
The vagabond nodded. “You serve others in this way?”
“Yes,” said the carpenter.
“If you stop shaping the wood, the money stops too, then?”
“Yes, the money would stop. The wood won’t shape itself.”
“And your customers would go elsewhere to have their needs met, is that correct?” asked the vagabond.
“Yes, the city has other carpenters who are also very capable,” the carpenter answered. He was growing impatient with the vagabond’s questions. Worse, he was feeling more trapped with every answer he gave.
“Sounds to me like you’ve worked yourself into a wooden box,” smiled the vagabond.
“That box,” the carpenter said, “Is coffin-shaped. As near as I can tell, I could work like this until I die.”
“Indeed,” the vagabond said. “Tell me, carpenter–is the money more plentiful than when you first began?”
“Oh, yes,” he said. “Before it was just me. Now I employ a whole team.”
“What if your team were smaller? Would you earn more of the money?”
“Yes, however it would be on me to do more of the work!”
“So by giving the work to others, you have been able to work less, accomplish more and earn the same or more than when you began your shop, is that correct?”
“Yes,” said the carpenter.
“Further, you maintain that doing more of the work yourself would earn you more money, but you would have to work longer hours as well; an unfavorable trade-off in your mind, correct?” asked the vagabond.
“Yes, that’s right,” said the carpenter.
“Seems to me, you want to bring in even more work for others. If you cannot go back, it seems moving forward is the way to go.”
“I could raise my rates,” the carpenter said. “That would improve my margin and possibly deter smaller, time-consuming jobs.”
“As one who believes in service, is it your goal to help as many people as you can or is it your goal to help a privileged few?”
“As many as I can,” the carpenter realized.
“Then raising your prices to deter small jobs is not for you,” said the vagabond. “You wish to remain reachable. Raise your rates when the market allows, not to deter those who would otherwise seek to pay you for your services.”
“Yes, you’re right. I agree,” said the carpenter. “If I am to bring in more work, though? I am already feeling burdened. How am I to handle it?”
“Take inventory of your current duties. Is there one on your team who could fulfill even half of them?”
“No,” the carpenter answered. “No one among them knows the business like I do, from end to end.”
“Then you would either train one up or hire new. Considering your current team, are there any who could be trained? More, are there any who would even want your job? For it’s a job you have crafted for yourself. A job without paid leave or benefits, save being commander of your own ship, able to set your own manic schedule. But even that schedule is dictated by your clients’ demands, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is!” laughed the carpenter. “No, when I look at my team, they are all hard workers, but they all also appreciate their own time. I think I would be seeking to hire from outside. It needs to be someone who understands the carpentry business.”
“Then you seek another, like you. Someone who knows your business end to end, who enjoys the work, who is trustworthy and loyal and who reflects the values you have tried to imbue into your shop.” said the vagabond.
“That’s a tall order,” said the carpenter.
“Would it be wise to settle for less?” asked the vagabond.
“I suppose not,” replied the carpenter.
“You have chosen one of the harder ways of creating wealth for yourself, carpenter,” said the vagabond. “You have raised a business from nothing. While this can be very rewarding, it can also mean much trial, much discovery and much effort. Both risk and reward can be great when taking this path.”
“What would you have me do to provide for my family if not this? I felt working for someone else was not the path to create wealth. Was I wrong?”
“Wealth can even be created when working for someone else. Much of your relationship with money depends upon what you do with the wealth you receive. There are many paths to living an abundant life. You may employ only one path to wealth, but wiser to employ multiple; when one path becomes blocked, others may be followed.”
“What are these other paths you speak of? Tell me. Please.”
“Another day, perhaps,” smiled the vagabond, turning to leave.
“Tomorrow!” said the carpenter. “Please.”
The vagabond was silent for a long time. Just when the carpenter was sure the answer would be no, the vagabond said, “Yes. Tomorrow then.”
“Great!” said the carpenter. “May I ask, what is the name of my new teacher?”
The vagabond smiled and said, “Charity.”
The carpenter said, “Alright, have it your way, Charity. I’ll see you tomorrow. Thank you. Today, your charity has helped a blind man to see.”
Without any acknowledgment, the vagabond moved on. The carpenter wondered if he would truly see the cloaked figure tomorrow. He hoped he would.
