Below is an excerpt from my motivational book, Success Secrets from The Three Little Pigs as well the foreword written by world renown author and speaker, Les Brown. Success Secrets from The Three Little Pigs is a fun and effective way of helping people identify and manage their mindset using the story of The Three Little Pigs as a metaphor for life.
Foreword
Robert Roots masterfully transformed this age-old fairytale into a metaphor that shows you how to deal with the challenges of life that can cause us to fail. With creative genius and mind-expanding concepts from perhaps the age-old thinking, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” Robert, with his unique approach warns with a loud voice of alarm, “The wolf is coming.” So, get ready, prepare and plan to defeat the wolf before he devours you.
No doubt our thoughts and actions reveal our strengths and weaknesses. Be our mindset- Straw, Wood or Brick- it will manifest conditions of solid character with dreams and purpose realized or as evidence of loosely structured values and beliefs that cause us to be co-conspirators in our own demise. Driven by fear and a lack of discipline, many people become volunteer victims in life by holding their talents and dreams hostage, refusing to participate in their own rescue.
Cornered and confronted by adverse circumstance called the “Big Bad Wolf” the situation for The Three Little Pigs appears to be hopeless. But wait, it ain’t over yet. “Success Secrets from The Three Little Pigs” offers a unique and creative approach for overcoming obstacles and meeting the challenges that life brings our way. This book is loaded with insight, strategies and practical steps of faith required for living a life of purpose and meaning.
Those experiencing even the most difficult of circumstances can successfully apply these principles for overcoming trials and moving toward even greater triumphs. Robert Roots compels us to “Be the Brick”- people who approach life with preparation, focus and discipline. Building our lives with the Cs of Success- Character, Commitment Confidence, Competence, Consistency, Creativity, Courage and Clarity, Robert’s convincing advice will lead you to achievement and fulfillment in life and business.
“Success Secrets from The Three Little Pigs” is not just another run of the mill book on motivation, it is a success guide skillfully designed to help you and the people you care about create a life of happiness and abundance. Scripture reminds us, “We must become as little children.” With child-like intrigue and adventure, “Success Secrets from The Three Little Pigs” will put you on the path of living a life of value, excitement and contribution.
Les Brown
World Renowned Author and Motivational Speaker
Ranked in Top 5 Speakers in the World
The Three Little Pigs and Real Life
Each year millions of people read The Three Little Pigs. It is read in schools and homes and there have been plays as well as cartoons depicting the story. Yet few people understand how The Three Little Pigs apply to life. However, with critical evaluation one discovers that The Three Little Pigs is truly a metaphor for life. It is about choices and how those choices affect our ability to prepare for the challenges in life.
The material each pig chose to build their home with represents their mindset- straw, wood and brick. These are not just materials chosen by the three pigs, we as people also build our lives out of these very same materials. The homes the pigs live in represent life or the result of those choices. Whereas the wolf in the story is a metaphor for the obstacles and challenges we experience in life.
Most experts suggest if you want to succeed at a goal or task, you should envision what you want to accomplish or where you are going before you begin your journey. I agree, but there is another important factor to consider. If you want to reach a destination, not only is it important to know where you are going, it is equally important to know your starting point or your mindset.
Discovering which mindset, you identify with most from the story of The Three Little Pigs— straw, wood or brick— will help you understand where you are, the quality of choices you are making and will provide insight and foresight to where you may find yourself if you continue on the same path.
As in the story, there is a phrase in boxing regarding a person’s chin. In boxing, your chin is an indication of your ability to take a punch. Metaphorically, your chin reflects your strength and ability to deal with life’s challenges and obstacles. Each pig thought his chinny chin chin could stand up to the power of the wolf. Just as the pigs discovered, it is not until facing a wolf that you find out whether your choices will sustain you under the pressure of his huffing and puffing to blow your house in.
Most of the obstacles or wolves you encounter, you invite into your life by the choices you make. When you learn to anticipate the consequences of everything you say, do, think, as well as the quality of your friends and associates, you limit the number of wolves you have to confront. Look at the pig who built his house of wood. If he did not let the pig who built his house out of straw in, then maybe the wolf would not have come in search of the straw pig and blown his house down too.
Decide the strength and integrity of your life before you start to build. Build with a solid foundation and brick building blocks so when the wolf comes, he cannot huff and puff, and blow your house, hopes and dreams down. Unfortunately, many people do not prepare for the wolf. They expect their lives to be perfect and problem free. No one’s life is problem free. Obstacles and challenges confront each of us regardless of our backgrounds, race, gender or size of our dreams. Everything you experience is a by-product of the choices you or someone else has made. Life is a mathematical equation; today represents the sum of all those choices.
Expect success but be a realistic optimist. Accept the fact that obstacles and challenges are inevitable. Always have a contingency plan. Do not wait for the wolf to be standing at your front door threatening to blow your house down before you prepare for him. By then it may be too late. Just like the straw and wood pig, when the wolf huffs, puffs and blows your house in, you will also wish you built your home out of brick.
Maybe you have had a hard life, full of challenges and obstacles. Everybody has a story. It is you who writes the end of your story. There are endless books on people who have triumphed against the odds. Read about them. The real odds are determined in your mind. If you think you cannot succeed, you will not. Believe in yourself, set goals, plan and take control of your life. Be conscious of the choices you make and the thoughts you allow into your mind. Program your mind for what you desire by meditating on those things only. Do not focus on the things you do not want.
Learn from challenges and disappointments, there is a reason they happen. These experiences are investments in your future. They will pay dividends later. Use the knowledge you gain to turn negatives into positives and to make better decisions. There are choices and consequences. You decide the consequences by the decisions you make. Life pays in exact measure. You reap what you sow. Be responsible with your decisions.
If you are waiting for others to take action for you, be prepared for a lifetime of disappointments and living someone else’s dream, not yours. There is little satisfaction in life if you do not take responsibility for your life. In life as it is in war, the element of surprise is one of the most effective tools to winning. By planning and preparing, you deny the wolf the opportunity to catch you by surprise.
Remember: Your mindset determines the quality of your choices.
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the preview. Click here to learn more or to order Success Secrets from The Three Little Pigs.
Other titles by Robert Roots includes Child Support Is More Than Money.
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