Lara’s Victory
Eight key principles for limitless productivity
Stone by stone they did it; 4700 years ago when they built the largest monument you can think of – the pyramids. Five million carved stones man-handled and carried up and down. At the end, it was done without machines, telephones or tools. With nothing! Productivity as never seen before in a story that will live forever!
And today? We live in a complex world with robots taking over, criminality flourishing and young people trying to find their feet against all odds. Many jobs are lost due to robots that are taking over in the Fourth Revolution. Behind it all, capturing our hearts with storytelling and productivity is EVERYTHING!
Lara’s story is short fiction about a child from a children’s home. No parents, no family. The enemies of life are against her, while a few people are on her side as mentors to teach her the core principles of productivity. This book is a compelling story that leaves you with knowledge on productivity.
Now is the time to learn and learn some more. Productivity is one of the top core principles to understand. This book is easy reading and focuses on being entertaining to convey core messages.
There are eight core habits that Lara’s story will reveal to teach you how to change life and be much more productive, have more time for yourself and, above all, be happy.
Enjoy every word of Lara’s journey in life and the critical lessons on productivity it will give you!
In desperation
Tell me a fact and I believe. Tell me a truth and I learn. Tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever. – Mark Twain
“Lara! You stupid twit!” John stares at Lara, she cringes into herself. “This is your last warning. If you do not complete this by the end of the day, you will be fired. I have spent a fortune on you to learn SQL development. We’ve been waiting and waiting and will now miss our launch date. And guess who’s to blame!”
“But, Mr Beest …”
“No buts. Shut up and go to your laptop. Get it done!”
Lara goes to her cubicle. Her colleagues peer at their screens, pretending not to have heard a word. In front of John’s office, the chubby Angela looks at the ceiling and giggles loudly.
Lara peers at her screen and at the garble of codes. “How am I to cope?”
After work at the little apartment on the fourth floor, Lara locks her door. She looks through the window at the bleak factories and smoking chimneys in the distance.
Her place is dirty, with stuff piled on top of more stuff. It is Sally’s night shift week and she spens her days here making a mess. Clothes and cups and saucers are lying all over, smelly and dirty. Roger’s jacket and underpants have been left on the sofa.
Lara starts to pack away and clean up. Her phone beeps. She drops everything to read a Whatsapp from John: “Lara, I’ve had enough! Come back tomorrow and pack your stuff!”
Lara cringes, with tears dripping down her cheeks. “Why? How? Why?”
***
A few years ago at Sullivan Children’s Home, Anne the housekeeper yelled, “Lara, get up, you are sleeping too late again! Get dressed and make it quick. No time for breakfast or you will miss the bus again and another day of school!”
Lara ran to the door. “Where is my bag? My pen?”
She combed her hair and briefly looked at the mirror. A dull face covered in red pimples looked back at her. She ignored the sad face and ran to the door. The other children were already on the bus. The driver, old Bert, scolded, “Lara, if you are late again, I will leave you here and you can stay behind in this miserable children’s home!”
The other kids giggled. Lara could feel her ears and cheeks flush. She buried her face in her hands to hide her tears.
***
Lara cleans most of the mess in the apartment. She then looks at the setting sun across the smoking valley and, as always, she starts talking to herself, “Why? Why? Why am I an orphan? Why does everybody always pick on me? What will happen to me?”
The phone beeps again. Lara reluctantly swipes across the screen with her thumb. It is Andrew, “Lara, I saw what John did; I am so sorry for you. Please do not feel alone; I am on your side.”
Andrew, the old guy sitting in his corner, who out-develops the whole office despite his age. His motto is: “How can I help you?”
Lara has never had a boyfriend nor her own birthday party. She’s always been a diligent student. Yet, all is now coming to an end as she is regularly missing her deadlines. “I cannot even maintain my apartment with Sally always making a mess. I wish I could be alone.”
***
Life changed course for Lara in her final school year. She received a two-year study bursary specifically for orphans. “I will be an Information Technology developer! Then I won’t have to talk to others; it’ll be just me and my screen!”
She accepted a paying job during the day, helped children in the afternoons, and studied till the early hours of each morning.
After work one day, someone bumped into Lara the food store, “Hey, look where you’re going!”
“Sorry …”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m studying to be an IT developer. And you?”
“Study? What is that? I’m Sally and I live with my grandma and work as a packer in a warehouse. Where do you live?”
“Uhm – uhm – I am an orphan with no family and may stay on at the children’s home for another year if I help them with their homework.”
“Ridiculous! Gimme your phone number and we’ll look for an apartment to share!”
***
“You’re late again!” shouts John. “Come to my office … now!”
Lara looks at the floor, aware that everybody is laughing at her. She dumps her things in the cubicle, grits her teeth and goes to John.
“Close the door!” he barks at her, “Sit down and listen to me.”
“Lara, you have been with us for just over a year now; your learning phase is over. Yes, you have your qualification – with distinction, which I still find hard to believe. I guess anything is possible with cheating. We have a strict schedule, we work as a team and delays cost us dearly. I received a stack of complaints and need to pay back a fortune due to late delivery. I’ve had enough!”
He fiddles with the notes on the table and again looks at the wall, “I hereby give you notice; you have two weeks to finish off. Take your things and get out of here. You will be paid the minimum according to the labour law. I warn you: do not try to come here with some legal eagle; you will regret it!”
She looks at her hands, her lips tremble, “Uhm … uhm …”
“That is it; you may go!”
Outside, Angela holds her hand over her mouth; she giggles loudly while looking another way.
Lara enters the office. Her co-workers pretend to look busy. There is a letter on her keypad, “Lara, my thoughts are with you. If you can, please tell me what happened. Andrew.”
She opens the door of the apartment. The stench is unbearable. And then she sees it. Lying on the floor …
Lesson 1
Life is full of the unexpected. It will happen over and over – the good and the bad. Coping with it all is almost impossible. Life happens – be ready to deal with it.