There was no worse office in the village than a "brothel gatekeeper." But what else could that man do. The fact is that I had never learned to read or write, had no other activity or craft.
One day, as a brothel manager, a brave, creative and enterprising young man came in and decided to modernize the establishment.
Made changes and called staff to the new instructions. The doorman said, "Starting today, the Lord, in addition to being at the gate, will prepare a weekly report that will record the number of people coming in and their comments and complaints about the services." "I'd love to do that, sir," he mumbled, "but I can't read or write!"
- Ah! How much I feel! But if so, you will no longer be able to continue working here.
"But Lord, you can't fire me, I've worked on this all my life, I can't do anything else."
"Look, I understand, but I can do nothing for the Lord." We will give you a good compensation and hope you find something to do. I'm sorry and you're lucky.
Out of the blue, he turned and walked away. The doorman felt as if the world was falling apart. What to do?
She recalled that in the brothel, when she broke a chair or table, he arranged it with care and affection. He thought this could be a good occupation until he got a job. But it had only a few rusty nails and poorly maintained pliers.
I would use the compensation money to buy a complete toolbox. Since the village had no hardware store, it had to travel two days on a mule to go to the nearest village to make the purchase. And so it did.
Upon his return, a neighbor knocked on his door:
"I come to ask if you have a hammer to lend me."
- Yes, I just bought it, but I need it to work ... since ...
"Good, but I'll give it back to you early tomorrow."
- If so, that's fine.
The next morning, as he had promised, the neighbor knocked on the door and said:
- Look, I still need the hammer. Why don't you sell it to me?
“No, I need him to work, and besides, the nearest hardware house is a two-day mule ride.
"Let's make a deal," said the neighbor. I will pay the round trip days plus the hammer price since you are currently out of work. What do you think?
Really, that would give her work for two more days ... she accepted. She rode her mule again and traveled. On his return, another neighbor was waiting for him at the door of his house.
- Hello Neighbor. You sold a hammer to our friend. I need some tools, I'm willing to pay you your travel days, plus a small profit for you to buy them for me, as I don't have time to travel to shop. What do you think?
The former doorman opened his toolbox and his neighbor chose pliers, a screwdriver, a hammer and a chisel. Paid and left. And our friend kept the words he had heard: "I don't have time to travel for shopping." If this were true, many people might need him to travel to bring the tools.
On the next trip, he risked a little more money by bringing more tools than he had sold. In fact, it could save some time on travel. The news began to spread throughout the village and many, wanting to save the trip, placed orders. Now, as a tool salesman, once a week he traveled and brought what his customers needed. Over time, he rented a shed to store the tools and a few months later bought a window and a counter and made the shed the first hardware store in the village.
Everyone was happy and bought from him. No longer traveling, manufacturers sent him their orders. He was a good client. Over time, people from neighboring villages would rather shop at your hardware store than spend days traveling.
One day he remembered a friend of his who was a turner and a blacksmith and thought he could make the heads of hammers. And then, why not, the screwdrivers, the pliers, the chisels, etc .. And after that were the nails and the screws ...
Within a few years, our friend became, with his work, a rich and prosperous toolmaker.
One day he decided to donate a school to the village. In it, besides reading and writing, the children would learn some craft. On the opening day of the school, the mayor handed him the keys to the city, hugged him and said:
- It is with great pride and gratitude that we ask you to grant us the honor of placing your signature on the first page of the Book of Minutes of this new school.
"The honor would be mine," said the man. It would be my favorite thing to sign the Book, but I can't read or write, I'm illiterate.
- The Lord?!?! said the mayor in disbelief. Did the Lord build an industrial empire without knowing how to read or write? I'm amazed. I ask, what would have been of the Lord if he could read and write?
"That I can answer," said the man calmly. If I could read and write ... I would still be the porter of the brothel!
Generally changes are seen as adversities. Adversity can be blessings. Crises are full of opportunities. If someone blocks your door, do not waste energy on the confrontation, look for the windows. Remember the wisdom of water: "Water never argues with its obstacles, but circumvents them.
