Lessons from My Dad 2 - The Rat and the Lion

Lessons from My Dad 2 - The Rat and the Lion September 20, 2008

Posted by mona in : Uncategorized , trackback

Why leave to work abroad as a clerk when you can be your own boss here? When every classmate I had had thoughts of migrating and working in the US or anywhere outside the country after college, my dad had so much faith that I could really move mountains and find my own place under the blazing hot Philippine sun. (Hey, that’s what Dads are for. hehehe!)

“It’s better to be the head of the rat than the tail of the lion.”

Actually that thing about the head of the rat and the tail of the lion is the basic principle that my dad had taught me and my siblings since we were young. I guess he’s right. Why waste my time, talent and my whole life working myself to the bone in a TV station or an ad agency that I will never own? He’d taught us to just use the big companies for “experience and connections” Don’t take too long, though. He’d alwasy say start while you’re still young and fresh and with plenty of time to make mistakes and learn from them.

So no matter how “micro” my microbusinesses are, I know I’m far better off than those who are merely following the rules, the strategies and the plans of the “lion” because I am the one leading the way. You see, even if I follow everything down to the letter, all I’ll ever really get is a lick from the lion. Being at the tailend would mean me watching over the lion’s back all the time…but who’ll be watching over mine?

My dad has taught me that no matter what I do, as long as I’m the tail, I will always be just that — just a tail. I know I deserve much better than that. I know I’m worth far more than that.