“Teamwork is so important that it is virtually impossible for you to reach the heights of your capabilities or make the money that you want without becoming very good at it.” – Brian Tracy
“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.”
John Quincy Adams
“The greatest power is often simple patience.”
E(li) Joseph Cossman
Not my average weekend due to a forced battle of wits between man and beast.
An 11 foot python nonchalantly attempting to sneak through my village in Bangkok and past my house kind of failed in it’s attempt. A few shrieks and screams from the locals seemed to have put pay to that, I always thought there was a snake in the grass somewhere.
During the course of it’s escape someone grabbed part of it’s 1 metre or so tail end and then a another neighbour grabbed it as well. By the time I got out of my house four neighbours had 6 hands on it to slow it down. It still made it’s way to a hole in the parameter wall of the village.
After 30 mins of holding the snake and coming to a stand still, most of it had passed through the hole in the wall, (not the ATM). One of my neighbours holding it was getting tired so I dutifully stepped in to grasp its tail end. But what I failed to grasp at that time was just how big it actually was only being able to see a metre or so of its tail.
The pics are a bit blurry, taken on an iphone, (no comment). That’s me with a firm 2 handed grip on it’s tail end, (not that it helped much).
We wrapped it’s tail end in leaves to improve our grip and also in case we ripped it in half. (heaven forbid). Another 30 minutes later and we’re still tugging on this 11 foot python to prevent it’s escape and finally the pro snake catcher arrives to take control.
Around 10 neighbours and I took turns to hold it from escaping in a real team effort.
As the three of us tugging couldn’t muster the strength to pull the rest of it back through the hole so the snake catcher recommended releasing it so he could catch it another way. Unfortunately upon releasing the beast it made a u-turn into the nearest sewer.
However we could see that it was cornered in sewer and not moving anywhere.
The snake catcher started digging up the neighbours garden to access the sewer and then proceeded to light a fire to smoke it out.
That didn’t seem to have any effect and now 3 hours later it’s still content just to lay in the smoke filled sewer. Patience was key now, the Python wasn’t going anywhere so it was just a matter of time and persistence.
The snake catcher couldn’t gain direct access to catch it so it was up to the Python to make its way out on it’s own accord.
2 hours later approaching midnight the snake catcher was no closer to snaring the beast.
Were they about to give up and let the Python roam around the village for another day?
Or would they persist and wait for it to make a move?
The snake catcher was getting tired and most of the neighbours that had gathered earlier had gone home to bed. Not knowing the outcome.
The snake catcher had to and remained alert and ready.
1 hour later about 1am the python got rattled and decided to make a move.
No sooner had it popped it’s head out the snake catcher pounced and lassoed it around it’s head.
Then proceeding literally to bag it.
Sure we all wanted to have a good look at it so he carefully lifted it from the bag.
My village should congratulate each other on teamwork that prevented this 11 foot python from escaping.
And the persistence and patience of the snake catcher.
I thought he was always one minute away from giving up during the long 5 hour battle of wits.
What could you achieve if you just stick at it for one more minute, one more day or one more week?
You could be a second away, or a millimetre away from success if you keep going and don’t give up.
Patience creates confidence, decisiveness and a generous attitude, which leads to success.
Now it’s over to you! How does impatience hold people back in life?
Do you have a good lesson in patience to tell? And how did you use patience for success in your life?
I want to hear from you! Post your story or comment below.
Wow a day less traveled Dominik. Thanks for this, patience did pay off and handsomely what do they do with the snake now? I hope they just let him go being Buddhists and all that?
Alan