“The well is drying up!”
By Adam Radzik
Consultant to Professional Firms

For as long as anyone could remember, the content shepherds of the Sabjani Valley herded their sheep and goats to the thirst-quenching Nabla Well. It could always be counted upon to supply endlessly clear and delicious water. The well benefited from the melting mountain snows that created a long underground river that ran downward until it reached the faraway Sea of Shiwan.

One year, the shepherds were surprised to find that the Nabla Well was only half full. That caused some concern; but the shepherds assured each other that the well would once again fill up as it had always done. Every shepherd took a little less for his flock and the community was mollified. Four older shepherds, Ojo, Darfeen, Elew and Glatch, who had lived through water problems before, were worried. What if the Nabla Well would have even less water next time?

Tribal leaders dismissed them as worriers who were creating needless anxiety and fear, and forbade them to discuss their views on this subject with other members of the tribe.

After several months had elapsed, there was even less water in the well, and more shepherds began to express concern. A few even began to consider the need to dig a new well. This suggestion was largely ignored, and tribal leaders responded by assuring the population that staring down the well in small groups would encourage Kodra, the god of all wells, to restore the former water level.

Ojo, Darfeen, Elew and Glatch viewed this suggestion as absurd and  spent many hours discussing what they should do. Glatch made the observation that with each passing year there was less snow on the mountain tops and possibly this was why the underground river was not supplying the well with as much water as before.

The four of them began to hunt for alternative sources of water in the neighboring valleys. Their search was lengthy and arduous but after four months, they found themselves gazing at a muddy field. Water was nearby. To their surprise, around the bend they found a wide stream that none of them had ever known existed.

It was frightening for them to contemplate moving from their familiar village to a totally new location. Fending off coarse ridicule from their Sabjani neighbors and bitter complaints from their families, they loaded their wagons with all their possessions and headed toward the Tilak Valley. Within two weeks of their arrival, they happily discovered that there were numerous streams brimming with cool, refreshing water – more than enough for themselves and their flocks. In a short time, they began to flourish.

Their brethren, who had remained behind in the Sabjani Valley and had refused to look elsewhere for water, eventually ran out of water entirely and one by one they and their families and their flocks collapsed and died on the barren hillsides of the Sabjani Valley.

Moral of the story: When your former source(s) of business begin to dry up, go searching for new sources of business or go into a new business. Avoid the comforting tendency to rationalize away the degree of the problem or the length of time the problem will continue. Expect that you will have to venture into unfamiliar territory, and expect that you will have to master new skills. Remember that initially all new ventures are fraught with missteps and dead ends. Anticipate that this process will be stressful and sometimes downright frightening. If you have to, work until your beads of sweat develop their own beads of sweat. Persevere mightily until you succeed.

Follow this advice, my friends, only if you wish to survive.

Comedy Corner

Q: What is the difference between a credit default swap and a Beanie Baby?
A: You can still sell a Beanie Baby.

Q: What’s the difference between a pigeon and a Wall Street investment banker ?
A: Only the pigeon can still make a deposit on a brand new Porsche.

Q: How many stock brokers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Two … one to change the bulb, the other to sell off the old one at the highest price possible before the media discovers that it burned out a year ago.