From Begging to Business: A Life-Changing Lesson

At a railway station in a bustling city, a beggar lived, relying on the generosity of train passengers for survival. Every day, he moved from coach to coach, seeking alms to fill his stomach.

One day, while begging as usual, he noticed a tall, well-dressed man who appeared to be wealthy. The beggar thought, This man looks rich; if I ask him for alms, he will surely give me a good amount. He approached the man and begged for money.

The tall man looked at him and said, “You always ask from others, but have you ever given anything to anyone?”

The beggar replied, “Sir, I am just a beggar. I always ask from people. I have nothing to give to anyone.”

The tall man smiled and said, “If you cannot give anything, then you have no right to ask either. I am a businessman, and I believe in transactions. If you have something to offer me, only then will I give you something in return.”

Saying this, the tall man boarded the train and left.

The beggar was left thinking about the man’s words. They struck a chord deep in his heart. Perhaps the reason I don’t receive much alms is that I offer nothing in return. But what can I give? I am just a beggar. How long will I keep asking without offering anything in return?

After two days of deep thought, he finally made a decision—whenever someone gave him alms, he would give them something in return. But then another question troubled him: What can I give when I have nothing?

As he sat near the station, pondering this question, his eyes fell on some beautiful flowers blooming nearby. An idea struck him—Why not give flowers in return for alms?

Excited by this thought, he plucked some flowers and carried them as he resumed his begging. Now, whenever someone gave him money, he would gift them a flower in return. The passengers were pleasantly surprised and happily accepted the flowers.

Within a few days, he noticed a change—more and more people started giving him alms. His earnings increased significantly. He made it a routine to collect flowers every morning and distribute them along with his begging. He realized that when he ran out of flowers, people gave him less money.

One day, while begging on a train, he once again saw the same tall man. Overjoyed, he approached him and said, “Sir, today I have something to give you in return. If you give me alms, I will give you these flowers.”

The tall man smiled, handed him some money, and received a few flowers in return. He was impressed and said, “Wonderful! Now, you are no longer just a beggar—you have become a businessman!”

Saying this, the man got off at his station and left.

But once again, his words left a lasting impact on the beggar. Am I really a businessman now? He thought deeply and realized that he had indeed transformed. Excitement filled his heart. Looking up at the sky, he shouted, “I am not a beggar! I am a businessman! I can become rich too!”

People around him thought he had gone mad. But from that day onwards, the beggar was never seen at the station again.

Six Months Later…

At the same railway station, two well-dressed men were traveling together. As they exchanged glances, one of them extended his hand and said, “Do you recognize me?”

The other man replied, “No, I don’t think we have met before.”

The first man smiled and said, “Think again. This is our third meeting.”

Surprised, the second man asked, “Really? When did we meet before?”

The first man chuckled and said, “We met twice before on this very train. I was the beggar to whom you once refused to give alms. The second time, you bought flowers from me.”

The tall man was stunned. “Oh! Now I remember! You were that beggar! But today, you are wearing a suit. Where are you going, and what do you do now?”

The former beggar smiled and proudly said, “Yes, I was once a beggar. But today, I am a successful flower businessman, and I am traveling to another city for my business.”

After a brief pause, he continued, “You taught me an important lesson about life—the rule of give and take. It truly works. I used to think of myself as a beggar, but when you told me I had become a businessman, I started believing in myself. I realized people weren’t giving me alms—they were buying my flowers. I had unknowingly become a small businessman. And once I understood that, I invested the money I earned into buying more flowers and gradually built a thriving business. People here love flowers, and their love has made me a successful entrepreneur today.”

Both men smiled, pleased with how life had changed. As they reached their destination, they stepped off the train together, discussing business and looking forward to the future.

Moral of the Story

This story teaches us that success begins with a change in mindset. The tall businessman understood the universal principle of give and take—a rule that governs not only business but life itself. The beggar, by applying this principle, transformed his life.

Our perception of ourselves shapes our reality. If we consider ourselves small, we remain small. But if we think big and believe in our potential, we can achieve greatness. Success is not just about what we receive—it is about what we give.