After the shock of losing the first race to the tortoise, the hare did some soul-searching on why he failed to win the race. He realised that being overconfident can be a dangerous thing.

He went back to the tortoise to ask for a second race, to which the tortoise promptly agreed, assuming that everything would be the same as before.

So at the agreed time and place the race started and the hare took off at top speed. This time, however, he did not give himself any rest, running at his best until had crossed the finish line.

Of course, the tortoise was dumbfounded, not expecting the world around him to change. It was his turn to do some soul-searching, at the end of which he found a key principle of life: being gifted with a sense of purpose and urgency is more important than being gifted and taking things at snail’s pace.

He called the hare and asked for another race. The hare, who could not conceive how the tortoise could ever beat him, hastily consented.

On the agreed date, the tortoise asked the hare to meet him at a different location from that used in previous races. When the hare arrived, the tortoise told him the specific point that would serve as the finishing line. The hare was not interested in any specifics. He was just raring to go. So the race started and off sped the hare.

What the hare did not know was that the tortoise had changed the race course to one where he, the tortoise, could have an advantage. So running at top speed, the hare arrived at the bank of a small river in record time only to discover he could not complete the race as the finishing point was across the river. The tortoise eventually got to the river, swam across, and completed the course, even though at snail’s pace. The hare, understandably, was furious.

The lesson from the third race is that even with your gifting, you have to choose your playing field to make the maximum impact. Take your skills where they are valued. It could be to a different firm. It could also take you away from where you might be geographically based. It could be that the way you use your gifts and talents needs some modification. I like to think of it like a chef who uses the same main ingredient to create dishes and delicacies, each of which appeals to a different audience. The appeal often comes from the way these are presented.

In life, when faced with failure, sometimes it is appropriate to work harder and put in more effort. At other times it may be more appropriate to change strategy and try something different. There may also be times when it is appropriate to do both.

Coming back to the hare and tortoise story, both of them talked things over after the third race, and decided to run a final race. This time though, they would help each other.

Using the same course as for the third race, the hare sped off with the tortoise on its back. When they go the river bank, the tortoise put the hare on its back and swam across to the other side. Then the hare put the tortoise on its back and sped down to the finish line. As you might expect, they finished the course in record time. Both were filled with glee at their remarkable performance and in crossing the finishing line together. They both felt a greater sense of satisfaction that in previous races. What a great ending, with an important lesson too.

Excerpts from Rexford’s eBook, “Creating Your Future – Keys to Recognizing, Preparing and Going for Opportunities” – available online at http://www.CreatingUrFuture.com