1.The Lazy Horse Effect
Two horses were each pulling a cart. One horse walked fast while the other moved slowly. So the owner moved all the goods from the back to the front. The horse at the back laughed: “Haha! The harder you work, the more you suffer!” But later the owner thought: If one horse can pull the cart, why keep two? In the end, the lazy horse was slaughtered and eaten. This is the lazy horse effect in economics.
Insight: If people feel you are dispensable, the day when you are pushed aside is not far off.
2.Time Efficiency = Profitability
There were two noodle stalls at the night market. They were adjacent to each other and had the same number of seats. A year later, A had made enough money to buy a house, while B still couldn’t afford one. Why? It turned out that although B’s stall was doing well, the freshly cooked noodles were very hot and it took customers 15 minutes to finish a bowl. However, at A’s stall, the cooked noodles were soaked in ice water for 30 seconds before being served to customers, and the temperature was just right.
Insight: Save time for customers, and money will come in faster.
3.Comparison Kills Contentment
A parrot met a crow. The parrot in the cage was comfortable, while the crow in the wild was free. The parrot envied the crow’s freedom, and the crow envied the parrot’s comfort. So the two birds decided to swap places.
The crow enjoyed comfort but failed to please its master and died of depression in the end; the parrot gained freedom but, having been used to a life of ease for a long time, was unable to survive independently and eventually starved to death.
Insight:
Don’t blindly envy others’ happiness; perhaps it doesn’t suit you. When you get old, don’t compare yourself with others. Live your own life well and enjoy your own life. That’s the way to go!
懶馬效應
兩馬各拉一貨車。一馬走得快，一馬慢吞吞。於是主人把後面的貨全搬到前面。後面的馬笑了：「切！越努力越遭折磨！」誰知主人後來想：既然一匹馬就能拉車，幹嘛養兩匹？最後懶馬被宰掉吃了。這就是經濟學中的懶馬效應。
領悟：讓人覺得你可有可無，你被踢開的日子就不遠了。
時間效率=獲利能力
夜市有兩個面線攤位。攤位相鄰、座位相同。一年後，甲賺錢買了房子，乙仍無力購屋。為何？原來,乙攤位生意雖好，但剛煮的面線很燙，顧客要15分鐘吃一碗。而甲攤位，把煮好的面線在冰水裡泡30秒再端給顧客，溫度剛好。
領悟：為客戶節省時間，錢才能進來快些。
攀比扼殺知足
鹦鹉遇到乌鸦，笼中的鹦鹉安逸；野外的乌鸦自由。鹦鹉羡慕乌鸦自由，乌鸦羡慕鹦鹉安逸，二鸟便商议互换。
乌鸦得到安逸，但难得主人欢喜，最后抑郁而死；鹦鹉得到自由，但长期安逸，不能独立生存，最终饥饿而死。
感悟：
不要盲目羡慕他人的幸福，也许那并不适合你。老了，不要去攀比，过好自己的日子，享受自己的生活才是王道！
