We crave applause for all the work that we do, but forget a basic fact - for all that we create, there will be volumes of background work that has to be done. None of this background work will be appreciated or even be known to others. But this work has to be done, because without it, we will have no skills.
Consider this story:
A young sculptor spent weeks carving a plain foundation block for a monument. However he was disappointed when he learnt that the block was going to be buried underground where no one would see it.
The master builder smiled at the novice.
“The monument will withstand centuries of storms, not because of its spire, but because of this stone that no one will see.”
Similarly, in Sanskrit there is a Subhashita (a well-known saying):
रत्नगर्भा वसुमती बहुपुत्रा च मेदिनी ।
अदृष्टसारा जगतां धत्ते भारमनारतम् ॥
Ratnagarbhā vasumatī bahuputrā ca medinī |
Adṛṣṭasārā jagatāṁ dhatte bhāramanāratam ||
This means that ‘The earth holds immense gems and boundless reservoirs concealed entirely within its dark depths. It is this very unseen core—hidden beneath the ground—that unceasingly supports the colossal weight of the entire world above.’
The unglamorous work that we do in the background is the bedrock for success because this is the stone that will keep you anchored at all times.
So don’t ever mistake being unseen for being insignificant.
It just means that you are still building your foundation stone.
Make it strong so that your monument does not falter.
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