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Smart people never struggle explaining how they work

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You won’t be truly successful just by showing up. You have to outwork or outsmart the people around you. file photo | nmg

Long ago, in the court of a powerful king, a scholar often advised him on economy. The King’s confidence in him was a matter of soreness to many.

So, they started taking revenge by targeting his son and insulted him by saying that he might be a great scholar but the son was a fool who did not even know the value of gold or silver.

The scholar was upset with this everyday taunt and decided to understand the matter.

He called his son and asked, “What is more valuable - gold or silver?” “Gold,” said the son. “That is correct. Why is it that everyone claims you do not know the value of gold or silver?

They mock you and I every day, which hurts me. Everyone feels you know nothing because you don’t even know what is more valuable between gold or silver. Explain this to me, son.”

The son smiled and told his father that “every day while walking in the street, this group of people, signals me to come, hold out a silver coin in one hand and a gold coin in other, asking me to pick up the more valuable coin. I pick up the silver coin.

They all laugh and make fun of me. And I head back to attend to my work. This happens almost every day. That is why they tell you I do not know the value of gold or silver.”

The father was confused and protested. “When you know, why don’t you pick up the gold coin?”

The son went in and got a box containing hundreds of silver coins. He said: “The day I pick up the gold coin the game will stop. They will stop having fun and I will stop making money.”

What are the lessons from this story?

Be calm

1. You don’t always have to prove a point: A truly intelligent person is one who can pretend to be a fool in front of a fool who pretends to be intelligent.

2. People understand only from their level of perception: Never waste your time trying to explain who you are to people who are committed to misunderstanding you. Don’t trade your authenticity for others’ approval.

3. Some people create their own storms, then get upset when it rains: People find it easy and interesting to find fault in others, rather than spend time in correcting their own.

4. Beware of what weighs you down: Before you get busy wondering what weighs you down, take a minute to see whether what weighs you down is yours to carry.

5. You won’t be truly successful just by showing up. You have to outwork or outsmart the people around you: You can’t control people around you and how they behave.

You can only prove your smartness by controlling how you react to them.

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