Ernest Hemingway wrote a great little novel, The Old Man and the Sea, which brilliantly illustrates values that are no longer very fashionable. At least that's how it is perceived in the world of work and business. The protagonist of the novel is a fisherman, poor and old, who wants to end a streak of bad luck and ventures, alone, into the Caribbean Sea. For two or three days he searches, on the high seas, for his big catch. Finally, a huge fish bites, and because it is so big, it begins to drag the boat out to sea, practically for two more days, until the fisherman can kill it with the harpoon, when the fish is already exhausted.
It is very interesting to observe how the fisherman concentrates on his work and his objective. He always adopts an optimistic attitude and does not complain; even if he cuts his hand, gets bumps or his back hurts a lot. He tries to distance himself from thoughts that distract him from his task and not think about what he would do if he had alternatives, tools or weapons, which he does not have. He tries to anticipate problems and circumstances.
It is also instructive to see how he reacts to adversity when, once the fish is caught, it is so large that he cannot load it into the boat and must tie it to the side, so he cannot prevent the fish's blood from spilling into the sea and attract sharks. He prepares for the fight and maintains hope: “It's stupid not to trust,” and when he loses the harpoon he looks for new ways to defend himself from the sharks.
Finally, it reaches port, and nothing remains of the big fish: the head, the tail and the spine. But he, very tired, is satisfied that his boat is in good condition, and he requires only a small repair to the rudder. He only thinks about the rest that he is already close to. And he doesn't feel defeated. He just says, “I've gone too far.”
What is it that maintains that man's determination and courage? The will to succeed, yes, but why? It is not for social recognition. He wants to catch the fish as a matter of pride. Because it's his job, and he knows how to do it well and he wants to prove it to himself, once again. So he feels fulfilled.
The willpower of the fisherman, the culture of effort that he exudes, does not come easily. It requires that people pursue an ideal, a goal, lofty or humble, that requires long and tenacious, and often difficult, work. A long path of small sacrifices that end up bearing fruit.
It is difficult to develop this character trait when the society we live in offers numerous opportunities for immediate gratification. The old man had few of these rewards. From him we can learn perseverance, which must always be maintained, and the spirit of struggle and improvement. The progress of a country is ultimately based on the values that prevail in society. Hemingway's magnificent work reminds us how important it is to transmit to new generations the principles of the culture of effort.
