Living Life by Design

There’s an old story about a traveler who hiked for many miles across the Desert Mountains. His water supply was gone, and he knew that if he didn’t find water soon, he would surely die. In the distance, he noticed an abandoned cabin and hoped to find some water there. Once he made it to the cabin, he discovered an old well. Then he noticed a tin can tied to the pump, with a note inside. The note said: Dear stranger: This water pump is in working condition, but the pump needs to be primed in order for the water to come out. Under the white rock, I buried a jar of water, out of the sun. There’s enough water in the jar to prime the pump, but not if you drink any first. When you are finished, please fill the jar and put it back as you found it for the next stranger who comes this way.

Two lessons from a pump:

• It’s all about the momentum you create from the effort you invest…If you’ve ever had the pleasure of using a hand pump, you know how much work it is to get any water. Once you start pumping, you can’t stop just because you get tired. Once you lose momentum, the water recedes and it’s just like starting all over again.
• Invest more than effort in your business…In order for the pump to work, you have to prime it. You have to put something in before you get something out. You can’t look at a stove and say if you’ll give me heat, I’ll give you some wood.