It was a cold winter evening in Portland. Jack was on his way back home after a long and tiring day at work. He was contemplating about the day that passed at work. “How I wish I could free myself from that manager? He doesn’t realize the amount of work that I do in a day. At the end of the day he cribs about all that I have done. I can’t take it any longer. I have to find another job for myself.” Jack was in his early 30’s.He was an executive with a Multinational Corporation. He was very lazy and wanted to attain everything easily in life even though he was very ambitious, intelligent and talented.

While Jack was thinking about the day that passed, his eyes struck at an old man who was painting the fence of a house. He was wearing tattered clothes and was shabbily dressed. Though his face was wrinkled, his eyes were glowing with enthusiasm. It looked like he was wearing a cap of perseverance. Just then Jack saw a young man come out of the house and screaming at the old man. ”Hey you better finish painting the fence today else you are fired from this job. I should have hired a young man to do this job.” The old man was wearing a smile on his face and the cold winter evening could not fade that smile. The old man replied,”don’t you worry, sir. Your job will be done today even if I have to stay awake the whole night.” Jack was surprised with the old man’s attitude and his curiosity made him watch the old man at work. The old man started painting the fence with lot more enthusiasm. Jack could not hold himself back.

He walked up to the old man and said”Hey! Old fella, I am Jack. My entire house has to be painted. Can you do that for me?”

The old man replied “Good evening Sir, I can do that for you. I will start your work from tomorrow morning.” Jack said” Do you really think that you can start with my work tomorrow ‘cos you have to paint this fence today”.

“Sir, that’s not a problem. Please give me your address and I’ll be there in the morning.”

” Sorry I didn’t get your name.” jack said with an apologetic air about him. “I am Allan“replied the old man. .”See you tomorrow morning Allan.” Said jack and moved away after giving his address to the old man. Jack returned home that evening and was thinking the whole night about the old man. He felt ashamed of himself. He always cribbed about any job that was assigned to him. He thought “I wish I had the old man’s attitude towards work. Although he is old, Allan has an enthusiasm of a young man. His hard work was commendable. Wish I was hard working like him.” That night Jack decided to change his attitude towards work and wanted to take every project as a challenge. Jack was no longer tired. He had a peaceful sleep that night and was eagerly waiting to see the old man next day.

The Next day morning, his door bell rang. Jack opened the door.

” Good morning Sir"

Jack heard an enthusiastic voice from that wrinkled face. Jack saw a glow of a hard will and dedication in the old man’s eyes. Jack said” You can start painting my house when you complete painting that fence” The old man said “Which fence sir?”

Jack said “The fence that you were painting yesterday.”

“I finished that job yesterday night .I is all set to paint your house “replied the man. Jack said “You can paint the fence today and over the weekend, you can paint the entire house”. The old man said “Sure Sir”.

Jack assigned the job to the old man and got ready to go to work. He was charged up with Allan’s enthusiasm and was eagerly waiting to be at work. Jack was the first man to reach the office that day. He saw his project as a new challenge and began working towards completing the project within the deadline given to him. Jack’s manager was surprised at his transformed attitude towards work.

Today Jack is a senior manager in the organization. His hard work and positive attitude toward work has paid off .Even today, when he looks at the painted fence he thinks of the old man. In just few minutes this old man had made a big impact in Jack’s life. He learnt a big lesson from the old man:”Hard work and positive attitude are the key to success in one’s life.”