A traveler walked along the banks of a large lake of crystal clear water and wondered how to get to the other side, where his destination was.
He sighed deeply as he tried to fix his gaze on the horizon. The voice of a white-haired man broke the momentary silence, offering to carry it. It was a boatman.
The small aged boat on which the crossing would take place was provided with two oak oars. The traveler looked closely and realized what appeared to be letters on each oar. As he put his dusty feet into the boat, he noticed that it was really two words. One oar was carved with the word believe and the other act.
Unable to contain curiosity, he asked the reason for those original names given to the oars. The boatman took the oar, which was written to believe, and rowed with all his might. The boat then began to spin without leaving its seat. Then he took the oar that was written act and rowed with all his might. Again the boat spun in the opposite direction without going forward.
Finally the old boatman, holding both oars, moved them at the same time and the boat, driven on both sides, sailed across the waters of the lake, quietly reaching the other shore.
Then the boatman said to the traveler:
- This boat can be called self-confidence. And the margin is the goal we want to achieve.
In order for the boat of self-confidence to sail safely and reach its intended goal, we must use both oars at the same time and with the same intensity to act and believe.
