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Reaching your ultimate goal

Guest post by: Charlie Badenhop

Article Overview: Each work experience is a building block that helps to create your ultimate career goal. The success of a lifetime is comprised of many routine assignments which serve as preparation. No job is too menial and all successful people have paid their dues.This story illustrates the importance of never giving up on your dreams.

Reaching your ultimate goal



Do you ever think about how you'd love to engage in the activities you find most exciting and enriching, if only you had the time and opportunity? Hopefully this story will give you a new way to think about pursuing your dreams! Many years ago, two young friends (Kazu and Hiro) both diligently studied kyudo (Japanese archery).

Eventually, Kazu had to quit the practice he so loved and dedicate his time to supporting his extended family. He was sad, but knew the well-being of his family was his primary responsibility.

Hiro on the other hand, having little in the way of family commitments, went to live and study with a renowned kyudo master. He spent all his time gaining proficiency in his art, and eventually became known as one of the best archers in all of Japan.

Kazu went to work in his father's business, making the protective armor worn by samurai during battle. The armor was heavily padded and Kazu joined the pieces together using a sewing machine operated with a foot pedal and a large wheel used to position the thick needle in the correct location for piercing the fabric. The job was physically demanding and dangerous. If Kazu's mind wandered for just a moment, he could easily pierce his hand instead of the fabric.

Some twenty years after the two friends had parted ways, the emperor announced a nationwide competition to honor the role and importance of Japan's many fine archers.

On his way to the competition Hiro, who had taken over the position of his deceased master, stopped by to see his friend Kazu. He told his friend about the upcoming event, and Kazu sheepishly asked if he could enter the competition being introduced as Hiro's student. Although Hiro thought the proposal somewhat foolish, because of their strong friendship in the past he agreed to bring Kazu along.

With all the masters and their many students present, people were expecting a great display of prowess. With two arrows to shoot, whoever pierced the target twice, would be given a sizeable quantity of gold and a large plot of land. To everyone's surprise though, the target was placed at twice the distance of their everyday practice!

With the target positioned much farther away than usual, one master after another failed to hit the target with both arrows. Finally with every master having missed the mark, their students were given the opportunity to shoot. In the minds of everyone there, the competition was all but over.

With no official ranking, Kazu was the very last person to shoot. He gathered his spirit, let loose his arrows, and both flew straight and sure piercing the target! Everyone in attendance was shocked and speechless as the emperor presented Kazu with his lavish reward.

With the ceremony over, Hiro rushed over to Kazu and asked,

"After all these years with no practice, how in the world did you manage to hit the target both times?"

Kazu replied,

"As a tailor, each time I aimed to pierce the right spot on the heavy fabric, I imagined my needle was my arrow, and I hit the target every single time! Today was no different."

"I spent many more hours practicing as a tailor, than I would have as an archery student. Now that I've won the prize, I'll have the time to start studying kyudo again."

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Article Tags: ambition, confidence, goals, pride in work



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