A man and his son set out for the market with their donkey one morning.
They figured walking alongside the donkey was the most sensible way to travel.
But as they made their way down the road, a passerby scoffed at them, saying, “What fools! You’ve got a donkey, and neither of you is riding it?”
Feeling embarrassed, the man thought, Maybe he’s right.
He hoisted his son onto the donkey’s back, and they continued on their way.
Not long after, they passed a group of men.
One of them sneered, “Look at that lazy boy, riding while his poor old father walks!”
The man scratched his head. Fair point.
He told his son to hop off and climbed onto the donkey himself.
But before they got much farther, two women walked by and shook their heads disapprovingly.
One of them whispered loudly, “Shame on that man! Making his little boy walk while he rides comfortably.”
Now the man was stuck. No matter what he did, someone had something to say.
He sighed and lifted his son onto the donkey with him. This should solve it, he thought.
But as they approached the town, things didn’t get any better. This time, they were met with laughter and jeers.
A few people pointed and shouted, “You ought to be ashamed! Overloading that poor donkey with the both of you!”
Completely flustered, the man stopped.
He and his son didn’t know what to do anymore. They talked it over, trying to come up with a solution that wouldn’t draw criticism from anyone.
Finally, they decided to cut down a pole, tie the donkey’s feet together, and carry it on their shoulders.
Picture this: A man and his son, hauling a donkey tied to a pole, staggering toward the market.
Needless to say, they became the center of attention.
People roared with laughter as they walked by, pointing at the bizarre sight. But things went from bad to worse when they reached a bridge.
As they tried to cross, the donkey panicked. One of its feet came loose, and it started kicking.
The boy couldn’t hold his end of the pole, and in the chaos, the donkey slipped off the bridge and into the river. With its feet tied together, the poor animal drowned.
An old man who had been following the spectacle shook his head and said, “Let this be a lesson—try to please everyone, and you’ll end up pleasing no one.”
Key Takeaway: Stop Chasing Approval
The man’s mistake? He listened to everyone’s opinions and ignored his own judgment. Sound familiar?
Too often, we make decisions based on what others think. We try to avoid criticism, fit in, and win approval from everyone around us.
But the truth is, you can’t please everyone.
In trying to do so, you’ll only wear yourself out—and worse, you might lose something valuable along the way.
Whether it’s in business or life, sticking to your principles matters more than keeping everyone happy.
You can’t control what people say, but you can control how you respond.
So, stop chasing approval, trust your instincts, and make choices that align with your values.
After all, if you try to please all, you’ll end up pleasing none.
