Three Lives — A Fable About Choices
June 18th 2008 09:13 pm
Once there were three very young men. Early in their lives, each of them knew what was important to him.
RichMan valued money, and from middle school on he worked hard to accumulate wealth. Even when he was in school, he always worked two jobs, and never spent any more than was absolutely necessary. He finished college, went on to earn an MBA, and founded a successful business. He never married, since a wife and children can be expensive. He became very wealthy.
FamilyMan knew early in his life that a large family was what he wanted. He married right out of high school, and he and his wife started having children right away. Since he had to support his growing family, he didn’t go to college. He worked hard at his job to provide the best life he could for his wife and children. He spent almost all his leisure time surrounded by the family he loved so much.
GoodTimesMan just wanted to party. He dropped out of high school to have more time to spend with his friends. He worked odd jobs, which suited him just fine – it gave him enough money to live, barely, but left him with more time to do the things he really wanted to do.
Forty years after middle school, each man had a mid-life crisis. They all took a close look at the lives they had created for themselves.
RichMan looked at his stock portfolio and said to himself, “Well, I got what I always wanted. I’m unbelievably wealthy, but I can see now that some of my choices were not in my own best interest. I never had much fun because I was always too busy working to spend time with friends. I have no one to share my wealth with, and sometimes I’m lonely. But I can see that I am where I am because of the choices I’ve made.”
FamilyMan looked at his wife and at the children and grandchildren playing in the yard of his modest home and said to himself, “Well, I got what I always wanted. I have a large and loving family, and, for the most part, we’re happy. I can see that it might have been better if I had waited to get married until I was out of college. We would have had more money, and I would have had a little time to party with my friends. But I can see that I am where I am because of the choices I’ve made.”
GoodTimesMan looked at his shabby apartment and said to himself, “Wow, what a ride! I sure did have some fun! I guess I wish I had finished school and had a real job, so that I’d have something put away for my old age. And a family would have been nice. But I can see that I am where I am because of the choices I’ve made.”
About that same time, Society was taking a close look at the three men, and didn’t like what it saw. So Society called the three men together and set them down at a table.
“The three of you have made some unfortunate choices,” said Society, “and I’m going to relieve all of you of having to live with the consequences. You each have something that the other two want, and I’m going to even things out a bit.
“GoodTimesMan, you are required to share some of the fun you had earlier in your life with RichMan and FamilyMan.”
“How can I do that?” asked GoodTimesMan. “My good times are only memories. I can’t transfer my memories into their heads.”
“Hmm. I guess you’re right,” said Society. “Never mind.”
Turning to FamilyMan, Society said, “FamilyMan, neither of these other two ever had a family, and children would make their lives much richer. You are required to give one or two of your children to each of them.”
“Absolutely not!” cried FamilyMan. “These are human beings we’re talking about here. Humans cannot be given away!”
“I see your point,” said Society, “and you’re right. Never mind.”
“RichMan,” said Society, “these other two men’s lives would be much better if they had more money. You are required to give some of your money to them.”
“That’s not fair!” cried RichMan. “It’s what I spend my whole life earning! I gave up good times and a family for it! How can you take it away and give me nothing in return?”
“That’s too bad,” said Society. “I am going to forcibly take a large chunk of your wealth away for redistribution to these others.”
And so it did.
KsSmallBiz.com, June 15, 2005