Laying bricks vs. building cathedrals. The simple fable all founders should keep in mind to remember the importance of setting a vision and motivating employees

I believe a story that summarizes the Power of Vision really, really well is the story of The Three Bricklayers. 

As the story goes, three bricklayers are working together, side by side in the hot summer sun. 

A young child, passing by on his way home from school, stops and looks at the bricklayers. "What are you doing?", he asks. 

The first bricklayer replies: "I'm laying bricks." 

"And you?" Says the child. "What are you doing?" 

The second bricklayer answers: "I’m building a wall." 

"I see." Said the child. 

The third bricklayer is then asked the same question: "What are you doing?" 

He responds. 

"I'm building a cathedral." 

As the Founder and CEO of your business, remember one thing: no one wants to go to work just to lay your bricks. People want to go to work knowing they're building the cathedral. People want to go to work knowing they're building something magnificent. Something that simply NEEDS to be built because without it the world would be worse off. Help one another see the cathedral you're building together. And someday, when the last brick is laid, be proud of what you've built.