00:00A person's greatness is determined by their thoughts.
00:02This timeless truth has been proven repeatedly by the lives of successful individuals like
00:08Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Jeff Bezos.
00:11Napoleon Hill, in his famous book, Think and Grow Rich, said,
00:15What you think about, you become.
00:18But if that's true, why do so many people struggle to succeed?
00:23Do they not think about their future?
00:25Do they fail to see their own potential?
00:28Today's story will uncover the answers to these questions and teach you a powerful lesson.
00:34Along the way, we'll also learn some new words to enhance our English skills.
00:39So, stay with us till the end.
00:42I promise this video will be worth your time.
00:48Once, in a busy railway station, there lived a beggar.
00:52Every day, he survived by asking passengers for alms as they waited for their trains.
00:58One day, as he was begging, he noticed a well-dressed businessman stepping onto the platform.
01:04Seeing his expensive suit and confident posture, the beggar thought,
01:09This man must be really rich.
01:12If I ask him for money, he'll surely give me a generous amount.
01:16With this hope, the beggar approached the businessman and stretched out his hand.
01:21But instead of giving him money, the businessman looked at him and asked,
01:25Do you always just take from others?
01:27Have you ever given anything to anyone?
01:31The beggar was startled.
01:33He had never heard such a question before.
01:36Confused, he replied,
01:38Sir, I'm just a beggar.
01:40I survive by asking for alms.
01:42I have nothing to give to anyone.
01:45The businessman smiled slightly and said,
01:48If you believe you have nothing to give, then you also have no right to ask for anything.
01:54I am a businessman.
01:56I believe in exchange.
01:58If you can offer me something, I can give you something in return.
02:02But if you have nothing to give, I cannot give you anything either.
02:07Saying this, the businessman boarded his train and left.
02:12The beggar stood there, stunned.
02:15He kept replaying the businessman's words in his mind.
02:19I have been begging for so long, but no one has ever said this to me before.
02:25He wasn't rude, but he spoke the truth.
02:29If I can't offer anything in return, then why should people give me anything?
02:35For the first time, the beggar realized that maybe this was why people never gave him much money,
02:40because he offered them nothing in return.
02:44That night he lay awake, deep in thought.
02:47But what can I give?
02:49I am just a beggar.
02:51I have nothing.
02:53Yet the businessman's words kept echoing in his mind.
02:56If you want to receive, you must first give.
03:01Two days passed.
03:02The beggar didn't ask anyone for money.
03:05He was too busy thinking.
03:07On the third day, while sitting at the station,
03:10he noticed a patch of wildflowers blooming near the tracks.
03:14Their vibrant colors caught his eye,
03:16and suddenly, an idea struck him.
03:20What if, instead of just taking,
03:23I offer something in return?
03:26What if I give people a flower every time they give me alms?
03:31Determined, he walked over,
03:33gently plucked a handful of flowers,
03:35and went back to his usual spot.
03:38When someone handed him a coin,
03:40he smiled and offered them a flower in return.
03:43Surprisingly, people accepted the flowers with joy.
03:46Some even smiled and thanked him.
03:50As the days passed,
03:51something incredible happened.
03:53More people started giving him money.
03:56But he noticed a pattern.
03:58As long as he had flowers,
04:00people gave generously.
04:02When he ran out of flowers,
04:05the donations decreased.
04:07So, it's true.
04:09People like to receive something in return,
04:12he thought.
04:13One day,
04:15as he was handing out flowers in exchange for alms,
04:18he spotted the businessman again,
04:20sitting in the train.
04:22Excited,
04:23he rushed over and said,
04:25Sir,
04:26today,
04:27I have something to give you.
04:29If you give me money,
04:30I will give you flowers in return.
04:33The businessman smiled,
04:35handed him some cash,
04:36and took a few flowers.
04:38You have truly understood the value of exchange,
04:41he said.
04:43Today,
04:43you are no longer just a beggar.
04:46You have become a businessman.
04:49The train arrived at the next station,
04:51and the businessman stepped off.
04:53The beggar stood there,
04:55watching him go.
04:56His words sparked a new thought in his mind.
05:00Am I really a businessman now?
05:03For a long time,
05:04he pondered over it.
05:06Then,
05:07suddenly,
05:07he realized something.
05:10I now know the secret of success.
05:12I am not just a beggar.
05:14I am a trader.
05:16People aren't giving me money out of pity.
05:18They are paying for the flowers I give them.
05:21This means I have a business.
05:24Excited,
05:25he made a bold decision.
05:26That day,
05:27he left the railway station
05:28and never returned as a beggar again.
05:32Six months later,
05:34at the same railway station,
05:37two well-dressed men met.
05:39They exchanged a handshake,
05:41but one of them had a curious look.
05:43Do I know you?
05:45One man asked.
05:46The other smiled and replied,
05:48Yes,
05:49we've met twice before,
05:51right here,
05:52on this very train.
05:54The first man frowned,
05:56trying to remember.
05:57Then his eyes widened in surprise.
06:00Wait,
06:01you're the beggar,
06:02the one I refused to give money to,
06:03and then later,
06:04I bought flowers from you.
06:06The former beggar laughed.
06:08Yes,
06:09that was me,
06:09but today I am no longer a beggar.
06:11I run a successful flower business,
06:13and I'm traveling to expand it further.
06:16The businessman was astonished.
06:18That's incredible.
06:19What changed?
06:21The flower seller smiled.
06:23You taught me one of life's greatest truths.
06:26We only receive when we give.
06:28That day,
06:29I realized that I was never really a beggar.
06:32I was a businessman all along.
06:35I just had to see myself that way.
06:38The two men shook hands again,
06:40now as equals.
06:41Then they boarded their trains,
06:43heading towards their respective futures.
06:46Life is shaped by how we see ourselves.
06:49If you believe you are small,
06:51you will remain small.
06:53But if you recognize your inner potential,
06:56you can achieve greatness.
06:58So don't limit yourself.
07:00See yourself as strong,
07:01capable,
07:02and successful.
07:03Because when your thoughts change,
07:05your future changes too.
07:08If you like this story,
07:10give it a thumbs up,
07:11comment below on what you learned,
07:13and share it to inspire others.
07:15See you in the next story.
