Follow Instructions - but lead the way

Follow Instructions - but lead the way

There lived a young, talented painter in a quaint coastal village. They said his attention to detail got him the most elite jobs in town. One day, a gentleman appointed him to paint a small weathered boat that belonged to his father. He wanted to gift it to his son, a legacy of fishing passed down.

As the young man brushed strokes of red on the boat's worn surface, he noticed a small hole in the hull. A perfectionist, he couldn't allow for a hole in a work of art, especially not so in a boat. Repairing a boat was not his job, but it was in the way of his art. So instead of ignoring it, he fixed it. He was paid well for the job and left.

The following day, the boat's owner showed up at his doorstep with a cheque. It was more than the one already paid for the painting job.

"This is for saving my son's life," he told the young man.

"After you painted the boat, my son was excited to take it out to sea to go fishing. I was not around to tell him the work was not complete; there was a hole in the hull. When I returned home and found the boat missing, my heart sank. They said my boy had been out at sea for hours. I was afraid he had drowned. But when he came back, I was relieved. When I examined the hull, the hole had been repaired. It was not your job to do so, but you perfected an error which was not part of your art. You truly are a gifted painter and a wonderful human being. Your work made my son's day and saved his life."

~ Author Unknown

Some lessons I take from the story:

  • The ones who go beyond their jobs to do a good job, well, they are the geniuses we revere.
  • If it is in your way, it is for you to fix.
  • Perfection is not just adhering to your art but aligning everything surrounding it to fit the bigger picture.

Your thoughts would add magic to the lesson.?

Inspire me.

Committed to your success,

Priya Kumar

Stay connected: [email protected]

SATYABRATA DAS

Creative Writer?? | Content Creator?? | Technical Writer ?? | Fiction & Novel Author ?? | Book Reviewer | Captivating Content Specialist | ?? #a writer?!....ghost writer???! contemporary words designer??

1 年

I believe nowadays stories have decided to befriend the lectures of emotional tales. The character that always whispered behind the facade of imaginary lives is now eager to navigate the realities of fate with ease. #Your story carries the motivation to inspire countless minds in the future, expanding their horizons. Mam ......

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Nehal Thaker

Governance professional | Passion ~ Nurturing

1 年

Priya Kumar we need more Geniuses like the Artist in the Corporate world

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RKS. Meena

"Author | Aspiring Entrepreneur | Founder of VidhyarthiRoom.com | Product Development learner from IIM Ahmedabad

1 年

If we go beyond our work... 1 first we learn many things, 2rd we show our skills and talent to try to do multiple works, not limited with one work or skills. 3Rd we don't what we get, yah our skills, our skills, our talent and our work dot connect in future like DOT Theory of Steve Jobs... So' I think go beyond our work....

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Avinash Kaur ?

Learning & Development Specialist I Confidence & Career Coach | Public Speaker

1 年

Very well written Mam ??

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Michael Frank O. I. MSc.(Struct.), MNSE, R.Engr.

Structural Engineering Consultant| Offshore Structural Research Engineer| Energy (Power)| Subsea Structural Research Engineer| Researcher| Finite Element Analysis Using Abaqus/ANSYS

1 年

Interesting! When I was 15 years old, my motto was “Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.” Till date, I have not failed to stick to it. Success is accountability and ownership.

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