“What do you wish of me, my son?” the old man said.

“I wish to be your student” the boy replied. “I will train hard and become the best black belt ever. How long will it take?”

“Ten years.” replied the wise Sensei.

“What if I train twice as hard and have more talent?” the boy asked, “then how long will it take?”

“Twenty years.”

“But great Master,” cried the boy earnestly “I will train longer and harder than any student you have ever trained and I will train all day and all night! How long then?”

The wise Master replied, “Thirty years.”

“Great and honorable Sensei, I do not understand,” said the despairing boy, “each time I tell you I will work harder and be better, you tell me it will take longer to achieve that which I desire.”

“The answer is clear child,” replied the kind Sensei, “with one eye so intently fixed on the goal and destination, you have but one eye left with which to see the path you must travel.”