The Squirrel was eager to help.
When the race began, he gathered flags, ropes, signs, and maps all into his little arms.
“I shall do it all,” he said. “That will be faster.”
The Hare shrugged and ran ahead.
The Tortoise moved steadily.
The Agile Coach watched the Squirrel wobble beneath his pile of work.
At first the Squirrel scurried proudly.
But soon the flags slipped.
The rope tangled.
The signs fell.
The map blew away.
The Squirrel stopped, exhausted, surrounded by everything and accomplishing nothing.
The Coach knelt beside him and said, “A flag in the ground is better than ten in your arms.”
So the Squirrel handed one flag to the Hare, another to the Tortoise, and kept only one for himself.
Soon the work moved quickly and cleanly.
The Squirrel smiled.
“I thought doing everything myself would help.”
“It only helped the pile grow,” said the Tortoise.
Moral
Too much work slows everyone.
