Malik and the old bus

 In a sun-drenched Caribbean village, a young man named Malik inherited his grandfather’s old excursion bus, a once-vibrant vehicle that had carried both tourists and locals alike along coastal roads for decades. Though the engine sputtered and the brakes groaned, Malik insisted it was still reliable. "Plenty time to fix it when ever I need to," he’d say, waving off the warnings of mechanics.

Then came the opportunity of a lifetime: a major resort needed a shuttle service for a high-paying corporate retreat that they wanted to feel the “local energy”. Malik secured the contract, counting on the income to finally restore the bus properly. But on the morning of the first tour, as he loaded eager passengers, the engine coughed, shuddered, and died. This time, no amount of kicking the tires or frantic tinkering could revive it. The passengers, frustrated and late for their excursion, demanded refunds and better service delivery. The resort canceled the contract with immediate effect. And Malik, humiliated, watched as a rival driver with a well-maintained fleet took over the job he had been counting on.

His procrastination hadn’t just cost him a single day’s earnings. It had torched his reputation and his biggest break. The bus, which could have been repaired piece by piece over time, was now a useless relic, its decay accelerated by neglect. Malik learned too late what every wise mechanic knows: Get it done now.

Opportunity doesn’t wait for you to be ready. 

It comes, and if you’re not prepared, it leaves with someone else.