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You Cannot Do It Alone

*You Cannot Do It Alone*

How are we/you  helping to support a brother, sister, family member or a dear friend grow a business or an Idea together?

I get really worried every time I read on the news,  people or the entire world celebrating just one individual over a single achievement instead of celebrating the impact of that individual person's achievement in society or his community.
These days we often here these terms a lot, "Self Made Millionaire" or "Self Made Billionaire". Meaning these people became millionaires and billionaires all on their own without anybody's help. Well, that cannot be true because I believe that before they became the  millionaires and the billionaires they are today, somebody or someone  somewhere bought their first product they ever made. Somebody had to buy into or believe in their business Ideas and supported them all the way until they reached the powerful status they are now.

In fifteen century (15th century)  Germany, near a small village in Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen (18) children. They were very poor and sometimes in order for them to get full day's meal of breakfast, lunch and supper, the parents had to work 18 long hours just to feed full meals to all their 18 children.
Two of the eldest boys among them, Albricht and Albert had great love for painting and art. They both dreamt of attending the Nuremberg Art school together. But they knew very well that their poor parents and siblings can't support them with money to go to the Art school. So they worked out a plan to toss a coin. The loser would go and work in the mines and his salary  from the mine work would be used to support the winner to go to Art school until he graduates. And after graduation, the winner will in turn also help the loser with money to go to the Art school and graduate too.
So Albricht, who was the youngest of the two won and went to Art school. Whilst his older brother, Albert lost and went to work in the mines near their town. So just like they had both agreed before, Albert used all his monthly earnings to support his brother through Art school. He did this continuously for four years.
Whilst in Art school, Albricht became a sensational artist and graduated top of his class. When Albricht returned to his village after graduation, the whole family decided to throw a feast (a party) to honour and celebrate him. As they all ate and drank, Albricht rose to propose a toast. He asked his elder brother Albert to stand too and he said this:  "And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you, just as  you took care of me"
But with heavy tears in his eyes, Albert said No and turned down his brother's proposal. He said it was too late now for him to go to school. The intense work at the mines had broken all his fingers and made them weak.
Moved by his elder brother's words and sacrifice, Albricht made his brother clap his two hands like in a prayer to God position and painted his brother's hands as a tribute to honour him.
It's been over 450 years now but this paintin called "The Gifted Hands" still remains one of the most recognised and most expensive paintings in history.
Albricht painted The Gifted Hands because recognised that if it was not for his elder brother's help and financial support, he would not have become the successful artist he had become.

So let's learn to build and help each other grow in their weakness to strength, turn individual impossibles to possibles.
No man is an island. You need my help, and I need your help too to survive.

*Kwame Sarpong*

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