Pebbles of progress

Time of India

16 hours ago

'If you want to feed a person for a day give him a fish, if you wish to feed him for a lifetime, teach him how to fish.' Dr Ajit Varwandkar is a Career Psychologist and a Thought process Transformation Expert by profession. He is working on enhancing employability through career guidance and training. Just capacity development is not his motto; enabling youth is the intent. He started his career as a mechanical engineer and eventually went into clinical psychology, management and doctoral research. He is an avid trainer of Thought Engineering for corporate and educational institutes. He is a music lover and plays the Indian classical percussion instrument – Tabla. He is the author of the book Think Success and Be Successful. He loves to write inspirational blogs on self-improvement and career development issues. He believes in living life at zero complaint level and is always keen to focus on solutions than on excuses. LESS ... MORE
We often chase success as if it's a race to be won in a day. But the truth is, success usually visits those who stay committed to small, steady steps, even when no one is watching and even when progress is painfully slow.
Let me tell you the story of a farmer named Ravi who lived in a small village. His crops dried up every summer because his well had no water. People advised him to buy water, but Ravi had a different idea. He believed in creating a lasting solution. So, each morning, he picked up his spade and dug a little deeper into the hard, dry earth. Just an hour a day. His neighbors laughed. 'Why waste time?' they mocked. But Ravi remembered his father's words: 'Steady work moves mountains.'
Weeks passed. There was no water. just dust and sweat. Still, Ravi continued. One morning, a miracle happened – moist soil appeared. Then came the water. By the next summer, while others watched their crops wither, Ravi's fields were green and thriving.
Ravi's story reminds us that steady effort beats noisy intentions.
You may recall the classic tale of the thirsty crow. Finding a pitcher with water too low to reach, the crow didn't complain or fly away. Instead, it patiently dropped pebbles into the jar, one by one. It took time. It took effort. But in the end, the water rose high enough to quench the crow's thirst.
That crow didn't need magic. It needed patience.
I also remember a real-life example from a crowded marketplace: a young girl named Meena ran a tiny tea stall. Her business was slow, not because her tea was bad, but because people didn't even notice her faded signboard. She wanted to paint a new one, but didn't have the money. Rather than borrow, she made a small decision: she would save a few coins every single day.
Now, think about how easy it would have been for her to give up halfway? Or to borrow the money just like others told her to? But Meena stuck to her plan. She knew her pace was slow, but she trusted it. Eventually, she had enough to pay an artist to paint a bright, eye-catching sign. Customers started pouring in. Her stall buzzed with life, all because of consistent savings and values she never compromised.
Consistency not only fuels success, it builds character.
But what happens when consistency fails? Let's peek into one of the oldest Indian stories, the tale of the monkey and the crocodile, from the Panchatantra.
A monkey lived in a tree and shared his fruits daily with a crocodile. Over time, they became friends. But the crocodile's wife didn't like this friendship and tricked her husband into inviting the monkey for a meal, with a plan to eat his heart. On the way, the crocodile revealed the trap. The monkey didn't panic. Calm and clever, he replied, 'Oh! I left my heart on the tree. Take me back.' The crocodile believed him, swam back, and the monkey quickly jumped to safety.
The crocodile's inconsistent loyalty to his friend cost him everything. At the same time, the monkey's consistent calmness and presence of mind saved him.
In all these stories, one common thread shines bright: the power of consistency. Whether it's a farmer digging daily, a crow dropping pebbles, or a girl saving coins, small steps repeated with discipline lead to big outcomes.
Today, more than ever, we are surrounded by distractions. Social media, fast-paced trends, and the pressure to 'go viral' often make us believe that slow and steady is boring or outdated. But if you look closely, every masterpiece – a painting, a successful business, or a fulfilling career was built one stroke, one idea, one hour at a time. We don't need to be perfect. We just need to be consistent.
So, whatever your goal: studies, health, sports, or art, ask yourself: What small thing can I do today that, if repeated, will change my future? Then do it. And tomorrow, do it again. That's how magic is made. Not with shortcuts but with steps. Not with speed but with steadiness.
Consistency is not a loud drumbeat; it's the quiet rhythm of progress. Whether you're digging a dry well, saving coins, or facing challenges with calm wit, small efforts done daily can reshape your destiny. In a world full of fast fixes, it's the slow builders who create lasting legacies.
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Views expressed above are the author's own.