In a bustling valley, there lived a master craftsman named Mr. Aris, who built the finest, most reliable bicycles in the world. His workshop was famous for producing bikes that could climb the steepest mountains without effort. Despite his great success, Aris was known for his quiet and humble nature.
One summer, Aris traveled to a distant kingdom for a grand festival. To everyone's surprise, he did not ride one of his own legendary bicycles. Instead, he traveled on a shiny, gold-trimmed bicycle made by a different company. The local people whispered among themselves, "Why would the master of the best bicycles ride someone else's machine?"
At the festival's grand banquet, a curious traveler approached him. "Mr. Aris," the traveler said, "your bicycles are spoken of in every corner of the world. Why do you choose to ride this fancy bicycle instead of your own creation?"
Aris smiled warmly and replied, "It is not because I dislike my own work. I have asked my manager many times to set aside a bicycle for my personal use. However, my manager is a man of immense integrity. He follows one strict rule: the customer always comes first.
He believes that every bicycle leaving our workshop must go directly to the people who have waited for them. Even when I, the owner, ask for one, he insists that we must fulfill our promises to our customers first. I am simply waiting for my turn, just like everyone else. Until then, I am happy to use this one."
The crowd fell silent, moved by his words. They realized that Aris wasn't just a great builder of bicycles, but also a great leader who respected the discipline and honesty of his team.
Moral
True greatness lies in respecting duty and putting service before self.
