The Parable of the Farmer’s Bull
The following is a short Fable I wrote some years ago. I believe it teaches a very important principle. Enjoy:
Ladies and Gentleman, gather ’round and lend your attention full.
As I venture to tell a tale of woe, the Parable of the Farmer’s Bull.
Once upon a time, not so long ago, there was a gentle and kind-hearted farmer. Though he lived in meager times, he had an industrious mind and an entrepreneurial spirit. He was quite successful in his farming business, having specialized in such crops as corn, wheat, barley and hay. He also enjoyed a small but thriving dairy farm.
One day this farming entrepreneur was struck with an idea. “Cattle ranching could be quite profitable”, he thought to himself, “This could be just the thing to add to my small but growing enterprise.” He already had a fair number of cows from his dairy business that he could begin with, but what he was lacking was a quality bull to act as sire for a growing herd. So, the farmer conducted some research and diligently shopped around. Finally, he found a rancher in a nearby village that had a quality bull for sale. One thousand dollars was his asking price. Not cheap for the time period, but then again quality never is.
The farmer and the rancher conducted their business and closed the transaction. The farmer paid the rancher one thousand dollars cash and promptly began his journey home with his new bull in tow, mulling over his plans with excitement along the way.
About a week later the rancher from whom the farmer had purchased the bull came to call. He said to the farmer, “I know this is going to sound strange, and I am sure you will not be pleased, but I need you to pay me another thousand dollars for that bull.”
The farmer was indeed not pleased. In addition he was also confused. Had he not alreadypaid one thousand dollars for the bull? Hadn’t the price already been agreed upon?Was the bull not already his? All these thoughts and more went through to the farmer’s 
mind. Finally, all he could bring himself to ask the rancher was, “Are you sure I need to pay you another thousand dollars?” The rancher replied, “I am sure.” And with that the farmer reached into his satchel, retrieved another thousand dollars, and handed it to the rancher.
Trying to ease his troubled mind regarding the circumstances surrounding the purchase of his bull, the farmer quickly immersed himself back into his new cattle business and soon forgot all about the rancher and the extra thousand dollars.
However, after another week had passed, the rancher came to visit the farmer once again. He began much the same way as he had during the previous visit. “I know this is going to sound strange” said the rancher as he went on to explain that yet again he required another thousand dollars for the bull. All the same thoughts again went through the farmer’s mind about having already paid, the bull already being his, and also about how expensive this was getting. But, once again all the farmer could bring himself to ask was, “Are you sure?” “I am sure” said the rancher. And with that the farmer paid the rancher yet another thousand dollars for the bull.
This continued for several weeks until eventually the farmer had no more money left to pay. In fact, the farmer found he was bankrupt. He lost his new cattle business, his previously successful farm, his beautiful home, and all that he possessed. The farmer was left with nothing. He was destitute.
Now, in the beginning I told you this was a tale of woe, but this sad little story is not without a moral.
The moral of the story is:
Never, never, buy your own “BULL”!!!
Now, I am fully aware that my little parable is blatantly corny, maybe even a little too obvious in its play on words. And even though you may have rolled your eyes, I am pretty sure you won’t forget this story any time soon. The truth that it speaks is quite plain.
There is an old saying, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” It is one thing for us to buy our “bull” once, maybe even twice, but to buy our own “bull” again, and again, isn’t that just too expensive? To fool ourselves over and over, isn’t the price just too high?
The choice is ours, but we have to be awake and aware as to what our own “bull” really is. We must be willing to acknowledge within ourselves that we are responsible, that we are accountable for the choices we make. Ultimately it was the farmer who was responsible for the demise of his business and financial well-being, not the rancher. Sure, we could rightly say, “Shame on the rancher” for fooling the farmer once, but shame on the farmer for being fooled time and again.
So as my little parable draws to an end, keep this thought in mind my friend
Over your own eyes never pull the wool, and never, never buy your own “bull”.
To your Success!
Kip Kint
Success Coach & President
Mission Ignition, Inc.
© Kip Kint; Mission Ignition