Get off your butt or remain a chicken forever!

Once upon a time there was a chicken, living in a black and white world. Things were either black or white, no layers in between. Life was predictable. Our chicken was a sweet fellow. Always doing what was right, always doing what was told. One day our chicken wanted a change so he went to the neighbouring city and asked a little donkey to paint his feathers grey. “Sure”, said donkey, “I will do it, come back tomorrow in the morning”. Our chicken went home and had a night to think about it. Doubt was keeping our chicken in the same place. 

The next morning donkey did not see our chicken. Chicken was still in his nest and trembling. He was not really sure he wanted the change so he decided to be happy in black and white. He forgot about his grey paint wish. Time passed. Life went on. Life remained pretty predictable. Our chicken continued to do what was right and what was told. A new day came and our chicken woke up feeling he needed a change. He knocked on his neighbour's door and told him that he wanted a new haircut. He wanted to impress a female chicken babe.

“Sure”, said the neighbour horse, “I will bring you in seven seconds to the closest hairdresser. Meet me here in the morning”. Our chicken felt brave and was in for a change. The night came and robbed his plans to change. Our chicken became fearful and got sick. His stomach was upset. Nightmares came and took him to places he did not know they existed. In the morning, it was clear, our chicken gave up his dream to have another haircut. Female chicken babe had to accept him as he was. The horse shook his tail and was too active to think about it later that day.

The calendar observed the story and whispered slowly: “Time for a change, our chicken needs some support”. The calendar marked a date. Involved horse and donkey. They remembered our chicken, how can you forget about our chicken? Not much details because his life was deliciously predictable. The horse talked to donkey and they came up with a plan. One day it was time for a change. Chicken was still sleepy. Donkey and horse visited him. Horse told him that they all had to paint themselves grey because a nasty giant was coming to town and the grey painting would make them invisible for the giant.

Chicken got afraid and could not even run away. He got fever and his stomach tumbled like a washing machine. “Please help me horse and donkey, please paint me grey!”. Donkey took a brush and did what he was told to do. Soon everyone was covered in the same grey painting. Even the sun got painted. The next morning the sun tried to reach chicken but being grey the results were somehow different. Chicken slept all day and all night. The calendar got tired of waiting for a change. Donkey and horse played outside.

The calendar brought a mirror and ordered chicken to open his eyes. “I'll be darn, I look different”, said our chicken, “what happened to me?”. “You are different”, confirmed horse and donkey. You are one of us now. You are no longer a chicken". Our chicken looked up at horse and donkey and replied: “So since I am no longer a chicken, I do not have to behave as a chicken, I can do what you do, it is that simple?”. “You are what you believe you are, baby, it is all up to you”. Was the painting magical? Life seemed suddenly so different. More colours. Not only black and white. 

Chicken wanted some change. So he took action. The change came and it felt good. Chicken went on a trip in several countries and he learned a lot. That there was more to life than being a chicken, always remaining in the same place. He discovered that change was nothing to be afraid of. He had lots of fun in the process of change. Donkey and horse looked forward to all of his new adventures and female chicken baby fell in love with her own hero. Our chicken became a rooster. A real man bird. Chicken behaviour did not suit him anymore.

“The only things that succeed by sitting are chickens.” – Mustafa Dönmez

By Liesbeth Leysen, MSc. International Management

Source: www.pixabay.com">www.pixabay.com">www.pixabay.com