There is a story about a king who once had a strange dream. In this dream, all of his teeth fell out except for one. Alarmed, he immediately called his dream interpreters to explain what it meant.
The first interpreter looked at him and said, “Your Majesty, this means all of your family will die and you will be left alone.” The king was shocked and saddened. His heart grew heavy with worry. He quickly dismissed the interpreter, asking never to see him again.
Soon after, a second interpreter was brought in. He explained the dream in the exact same way. “Your Majesty, it means all of your family will pass away and you will be left the only survivor.” Hearing this once again, the king grew even more upset. His anger rose and he ordered the second interpreter to be fired as well.
Finally, a third interpreter entered the royal hall. He had already heard what had happened to the others. Standing before the king with a calm and confident smile, he explained, “Your Majesty, this dream is very positive; it reflects how you will have a long life, and it means that you will live longer than anyone else in your family.” The message was the same, but this time the perspective was different. The king was relieved. His face brightened, and he rewarded the third interpreter with money and gifts.
The Lesson
This story shows us that the same reality can be explained in very different ways. The first two interpreters focused on loss, and they left the king feeling heavy and hopeless. The third interpreter focused on longevity, and he left the king feeling blessed and motivated. Nothing in the dream changed. Only the words and the perspective did.
In leadership, in teamwork, and even in our daily personal lives, how we choose to frame a situation can decide whether we move forward with energy or get stuck in despair. The story of the king reminds us that words carry more than meaning. They carry mindset.
The Workplace Reflection
Not long ago, my team and I at ToRead were working on a big event. More than 150 young people were attending in person. The preparation was demanding, and the timeline was tight. The pressure was very real.
At that moment, I had two ways to present this project to my team. I could have chosen the negative perspective and said, “We have a massive event coming up. It will be exhausting. We cannot afford mistakes. We will probably need to work late hours and spend our weekends on this.” That way of speaking was true, but it would only create stress and reduce motivation.
The other option was to frame it in a way that would inspire. I could say, “We have the opportunity to implement one of the biggest and most impactful events in our journey so far. This is a chance for us to show what we are capable of, to sharpen our skills, and to prepare for even bigger opportunities in the future.” That way of speaking was also true, but it carried energy instead of fear.
The reality was the same. The tasks, the deadlines, the challenges did not change. What changed was the mindset. And when the team carried a mindset of opportunity instead of burden, the event unfolded with excitement and positivity. In the end, we were able to add another success story to our portfolio.
Planting Motivation
This experience reminded me that leadership is not only about managing tasks. It is also about planting motivation. Challenges will always exist. Obstacles will never fully disappear. What matters is how we prepare our teams and ourselves to face them.
Choosing words that inspire does not mean ignoring difficulties. It means providing people with the energy and the belief that they can overcome those difficulties. When you frame a situation with hope, you open the door for creativity, collaboration, and resilience. When you frame it with fear, you close that door before anyone has the chance to walk through.
In life and in work, we all have moments where we must choose how to see things. Will we focus on what can go wrong, or will we focus on what we can make possible? The answer shapes not only our outcomes but also the spirit with which we live and work.
Let us then practice seeing opportunities instead of only challenges. Let us remind ourselves that the impossible often becomes possible with the right mindset. And most importantly, let us plant seeds of motivation in the people around us, because those seeds grow into strength, growth, and success.
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