A man stalked into a fish store in a huff. He located the owner out back, attending a tranquil water garden. In a large pond, fish swam happily in clear clean water.
The man barely noticed the peaceful setting. He thrust a bag full of water out for the owner to see. A small, runty fish twitched its tail inside.
"I bought this last summer," the man said.
"Is there a problem?" the owner asked.
"It's tiny! You sold me a bunch of defective fish. I wanted ones like those." He pointed to the long, sleek fish gliding through the pond.
"They are the same breed, sir," the store owner said.
"They can't be. Yours are magnificent and mine are stunted. You keep all the best ones for yourself and give the customers the rejects. Admit it!"
The owner clasped his hands behind his back and did not respond to the accusation. Instead he merely said, "Please, sir, tell me about the pond where your fish live."
"Well, it's about this big." The man stretched his arms, indicating a size much smaller than the store pond.
"Yes, how many fish are in it?"
"Eight."
"That is very many fish for such a small pond, sir. Are they fed well?"
"Of course," the man said. "Well, actually my wife handles that. Sometimes she forgets."
"And the water?" the shop owner asked. "Is it clear and fresh?"
"It's a little murky," the man said. "We're busy, and we don't have that much time for pond care."
"I think I see your problem, sir. This kind of fish is just like a person. To reach its full potential, it must be in an environment that nurtures growth."
The man barely noticed the peaceful setting. He thrust a bag full of water out for the owner to see. A small, runty fish twitched its tail inside.
"I bought this last summer," the man said.
"Is there a problem?" the owner asked.
"It's tiny! You sold me a bunch of defective fish. I wanted ones like those." He pointed to the long, sleek fish gliding through the pond.
"They are the same breed, sir," the store owner said.
"They can't be. Yours are magnificent and mine are stunted. You keep all the best ones for yourself and give the customers the rejects. Admit it!"
The owner clasped his hands behind his back and did not respond to the accusation. Instead he merely said, "Please, sir, tell me about the pond where your fish live."
"Well, it's about this big." The man stretched his arms, indicating a size much smaller than the store pond.
"Yes, how many fish are in it?"
"Eight."
"That is very many fish for such a small pond, sir. Are they fed well?"
"Of course," the man said. "Well, actually my wife handles that. Sometimes she forgets."
"And the water?" the shop owner asked. "Is it clear and fresh?"
"It's a little murky," the man said. "We're busy, and we don't have that much time for pond care."
"I think I see your problem, sir. This kind of fish is just like a person. To reach its full potential, it must be in an environment that nurtures growth."
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