[May 6, 2023] I ran across a great story on Quora a few days ago, and I thought readers would like it as much as I did. It is titled, The Greatest Stories Ever Told and posted by Richard Strachan. I prefer to call it; Cows Don’t Give Milk. You will see why. Here is the post in its entirety.
A father used to say to his children when they were young: When you all reach the age of 12 I will tell you the secret of life. One day when the oldest turned 12, he anxiously asked his father what was the secret of life. The father replied that he was going to tell him, but that he should not reveal it to his brothers.
The secret of life is this: The cow does not give milk. “What are you saying?” asked the boy incredulously. As you hear it, son, The cow does not give milk, you have to milk it. You have to get up at 4 in the morning, go to the field, walk through the corral full of manure, tie the tail, hobble the legs of the cow, sit on the stool, place the bucket and do the work yourself.
That is the secret of life, the cow does not give milk. You milk her or you don’t get milk. There is this generation that thinks that cows GIVE milk. That things are automatic and free: their mentality is that if “I wish, I ask … I obtain.”
“They have been accustomed to get whatever they want the easy way … But no, life is not a matter of wishing, asking and obtaining. The things that one receives are the effort of what one does. Happiness is the result of effort. Lack of effort creates frustration.”
So, share with your children from a young age the secret of life, so they don’t grow up with the mentality that the government, their parents, or their cute little faces is going to give them everything they need in life.”
Remember
“Cows don’t give milk; you have to work for it.”
Author Unknown
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Please read my books:
Now this is a refrigerator post, for sure.
Good one!
Hey guys, if you want to see how this very idea can translate into having good ideas …. or not … read today’s article by Gen. Satterfield as he evisorates the current Federal Administration on electric vehicles for the US military by 2030.
Don’t ya just love milk? And a great story to boot.
Excellent story to tell your kids with a clear message.
No. 9 – Nobody owes you nuttin’.
from Gen. Satterfield’s article Dougisms: Some Not So Random Thoughts
https://www.theleadermaker.com/dougisms-some-not-so-random-thoughts/
If you really want to get a measure of Gen. S., then read this list and read it often. There is more here than you might imagine. And you will see these threaded throughout the thinking of Gen. Satterfield, and it is as it should be and why he has been so successful.
Bam, got that right.
Laughed when I read today’s article. So classic Gen. Satterfield. No surprise that he liked it too.
YES! This is what the article is about. Life is tough. Get used to it. Nobody owes you nuttin! The best way to say it.
Whoever this Quora guy is, he hit the ball out of the park with this story.
Read Gen. Satterfield’s books. You will be happy you did. And give copies to others.
“55 Rules for a Good Life,” on Amazon (link here) https://www.amazon.com/55-Rules-Good-Life-Responsibility/dp/1737915529/
“Our Longest Year in Iraq,” on Amazon (link here) https://www.amazon.com/Our-Longest-Year-Iraq-Construction/dp/1737915510/
Be the one who is a rock in the stream of life.
Thank you, Silly Man for giving my books a thumb’s up.
Life is tough, deal with it. That is the long standing message that Gen. Satterfield has paraded before us. He is right. Don’t be a snowflake. Well, that is my thinking anyway.
Gen. S., please keep your blog alive. We all know that you’ve recently had some “minor” health issues that put you into the hospital but we rely upon your articles for a daily dose of sanity and, yes, sometimes they are funny and helpful at the same time. Today’s article that Cows Don’t Give Milk is one of them. Keep up your great works.
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Frank, spot on comment, as usual. yes, we all love this leadership blog.
Right and Gen. Satterfield never ever rides alone.
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Pow, nailed it Rides Alone. If you are a real leader, a real person (as opposed to the fakes we see so much of today), then you will never ride along. Period. Bless Gen. Satterfield for his wonderful blog.
Great article.
Just a note for Gen. Satterfield that my family and I are huge fans of his and are regular readers (as those who post here on his leadership forum know). Please keep these type of articles coming to us. Oh, I just purchased another copy of your “Our Longest Year in Iraq” to give out to children who live next door to me and who are interested in joining the military. I know that Gen. Satterfield opposes joining the US Army today because they are woke but I wanted to let them know that there was a time when service in the military was honorable.
I just can never predict what Gen. Satterfield will come up next with in his articles.
Right Janice, and that is of course why each day I open my computer with the anticipation that I will read something … again and again each day …. that makes my day better, that is both interesting and entertaining and informative.
Awesome Quora story.
Hi Tony, haven’t heard from you in a while, Welcome Back!
yes, thanks and be known as a great man like gen. satterfield