The Secret of Success | Ep. 231

Let’s say you want to make some money for your piggy bank, so you decide to open a lemonade stand.

The first thing you need to figure out is how much lemonade you’re going to make, right? In other words, how much you’ll supply!

To answer that question you need to think about demand, or how much people will want your lemonade. And that demand could change! In the warmer months, when people are craving a cool, refreshing beverage, demand will be higher. So you’ll want your supply to be higher, too.

But during the chillier months, when people would rather sip hot cocoa, demand will be lower. So your supply should be lower, too.

We call this idea “supply and demand.” And we’re about to meet a clever woman who finds an ingenious way to supply exactly what people demand!

Our tale is called “The Secret of Success.” We found versions of this tale from many places, including the European countries of England and Wales, and the Asian nations of China, Japan, Korea and India.

Voices in this episode include Feodor Chin, Kevin Corbett, Ryan Dalusung, Gamalia Pharms, Jessica Rau and Helen Hong.

Helen Hong is a regular panelist on NPR's Wait, Wait… Don't Tell Me! The actor, writer, comedian and podcast host starred as Mrs. Wong on Nickelodeon’s The Thundermans and has appeared on such shows as Silicon Valley, The Unicorn and Parks and Recreation. You can check her out in the new Netflix comedy film, Family Switch.

This episode was adapted for Circle Round by Rebecca Sheir. It was edited by Sofie Kodner. Original music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn.

GROWN-UPS! PRINT THIS so everyone can color while listening. We’re also keeping an album so please share your picture on Facebook and Instagram, and tag it with #CircleRoundPodcast. To access all the coloring pages for past episodes click HERE. Our resident artist is Sabina Hahn and you can learn more about her HERE.

Now it’s your turn!

It took a lot of effort – and imagination – for Yoonah to achieve her goal. Can you think of a time you worked hard – and imagined hard – to achieve a goal of your own?

Perhaps you found a creative way to save money, or learn a new skill. Maybe you discovered a method for running really fast, or building the biggest Lego creations ever.

Think about your achievement, then tell someone you love all about it. After that, ask them to tell you about a goal they achieved through effort and imagination!

Musical Spotlight: Gayageum

The plucked zither known as the gayageum (or kayagum) is central to traditional Korean music. It’s so popular, it occupies a position similar to the piano or guitar in Western culture.

Dating back to the 6th century, the gayageum was modeled on the Chinese guzheng (which Eric Shimelonis used to score our episode, “Strong Mind and Kind Heart”) and is similar to several other Asian instruments, including the Japanese koto, Mongolian yatga, Vietnamese đàn tranh, Sundanese kacapi and Kazakh jetigen.

The gayageum typically has 12 strings, though more recent variants can have up to 25. Typically, you play the gayageum while seated cross-legged on the floor, with the instrument’s head resting on your right knee and the other end resting on the floor. Your right hand plucks and strums the strings close to the bridge, while your left hand pushes the strings on the left side of the bridge to raise the pitch.

Story Transcript:

NARRATOR: Yoonah was raised on a farm in the country, where she helped her parents grow and harvest rice. From a very young age, Yoonah was a dedicated worker: always the first one in the field each morning, and the last one out each night.

But as she grew older, Yoonah began to yearn… for more. So one summer morning, she sat her parents down at their farmhouse table and told them she had news.

YOONAH: I’ve decided I am moving to the city! I was thinking I’d get myself a job – maybe even start my own business! (beat) I’ll make enough money to buy my own house… and then you two can retire – and come live with me! You’ve taken such great care of me all my life. It’ll be my chance to take care of you!

NARRATOR: Yoonah’s parents gave her their blessing – along with a warm hug and a steaming-hot pot of rice. Yoonah tucked the pot in her knapsack, then set off down the road.

At some point during her journey she took a wrong turn and got lost. Luckily, she was passing by a flower farm, where a crew of men and women were hard at work picking the most beautiful blossoms Yoonah had ever seen.

YOONAH: Pardon me! Sorry to bother you, but can you please tell me the way to the city?

NARRATOR: The flower pickers were happy to set Yoonah on the right path. In exchange for their help, she pulled her pot from her knapsack and gave them all of her rice. The hungry workers gratefully ate it, then sent their new friend off with a breathtaking bouquet of roses, violets, lilies and tulips.

YOONAH: What stunning flowers! Thank you!

NARRATOR: When Yoonah finally reached the buzzing, thrumming city, she could hardly contain her excitement.

YOONAH: I can’t wait to find my fortune in this fabulous place! (beat) The first thing I’ll do is get a job. Goodness knows there are plenty of businesses around. Surely someone is hiring!

NARRATOR: But as she soon learned…

OWNER 1: Sorry, miss!

NARRATOR: …that wasn’t the case.

OWNER 2: We’re not hiring right now.

OWNER 3: Nope! Not hiring!

OWNER 4: We’re all staffed up!

OWNER 5: ALL staffed up!

OWNER 6: Maybe come back next month?

NARRATOR: Yoonah was growing discouraged; how could she ever find success in this overwhelming place? But then, as she was walking through a park, she happened to overhear two women chatting.

WOMAN 1: So, my dear! You asked about the secret of my success…?

WOMAN 2: Yes!!!! After all, you are the most successful businesswoman in the city! And you came from such humble beginnings. How did you do it?

NARRATOR: Yoonah noticed that both women were nicely-dressed, but one of them – the businesswoman – wore a frock so fancy, it must have cost more than Yoonah’s farmhouse!

WOMAN 1: Well… if you really want to know. The secret of my success… is imagination!

WOMAN 2: “Imagination”?

WOMAN 1: Yes! When I first got to this city I had nothing other than the clothes on my back! The rather shabby clothes. (beat) So I had to be innovative… inventive… enterprising!

WOMAN 2: For instance…?

WOMAN: Well… business is all about supply and demand, right? If there’s a demand for something, you’d do well to supply it! And if you have a supply of something, you’d do well to create a demand. And that takes imagination! (beat) So, for example…

NARRATOR: The woman held up her hand and pointed a bejeweled finger across the park.

WOMAN 1: …See that little brown mouse? The one nibbling food scraps near that hedge over there?

WOMAN 2: Sure! I see the mouse. But what does a mouse have to do with anything?

WOMAN 1: Well… with enough imagination… you could pick up something as insignificant as a little brown mouse… and you could build a fortune!

WOMAN 2: So… are you really telling me that the road to success is paved with mice?

WOMAN 1: No! I’m telling you that the road to success is paved with one mouse! …If you’re innovative, inventive and enterprising enough to know what to do with it!

WOMAN 2: / WOMAN 1: (hearty little laugh)

NARRATOR: As the women continued talking, the wheels in Yoonah’s mind began to turn.

YOONAH: Building a fortune…? From a mouse? It sounds absurd, but that woman must know what she’s talking about. Perhaps her idea is worth a try…?

NARRATOR: Next thing Yoonah knew, she was creeping over to the hedge. She tucked her bouquet from the flower pickers beneath one arm. Then she knelt down… reached out her other arm…

YOONAH: (as she grabs mouse) Gotcha!

NARRATOR: …and scooped up the brown mouse!

YOONAH: Hello, little one! Nice to meet you! To be honest, I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do with you. …YET. But I might as well – (gets interrupted)

CAT OWNER: Fluffy! Come back, Fluffy!

NARRATOR: Yoonah spun around. Scampering toward her was a big orange cat. Scrambling to catch up with the cat was a man.

CAT OWNER: You silly feline! Get back here, Fluffy! NOW!

NARRATOR: But Fluffy paid no mind. Instead, the cat raced up to Yoonah, halted at her feet, then fixed its glittering eyes on the mouse in her hand.

The man came huffing and puffing over, a sheepish grin on his bright-red face.

CAT OWNER: (out of breath, but not so much that our young listeners won’t understand what he’s saying!) Good day, miss! Sorry about my cat. Fluffy simply adores mice! He never messes with them, he never hurts them; he just loves playing with them! And I can tell he’s very keen on playing with yours. (beat) May I buy your mouse from you? I’ll give you one copper piece for it!

NARRATOR: Yoonah blinked her eyes. Had she heard right? Was this man really offering to buy the mouse?

YOONAH: (surprised, caught off guard]) Um, wait. You’re offering one copper piece…?!? For my mouse…?!?

CAT OWNER: (misunderstanding; thinking she’s playing hard ball) Alright, fine. I see you drive a hard bargain. (beat) Two copper pieces then!

YOONAH: Uhhh…

CAT OWNER: Three?

YOONAH: Ummmm…

CAT OWNER: Look! I’ll give you five copper pieces! And that's my final offer!

NARRATOR: Yoonah could hardly believe her luck. First day in the city and already she was being offered five copper pieces. For a mouse!

YOONAH: Okay then! I accept your offer, sir. Thank you!

NARRATOR: As her happy customers took off down the street, Yoonah gazed at the coins in her palm.

YOONAH: Now I see what the woman meant about supply and demand. I just made my first earnings! (beat) But what do I do with them? According to the businesswoman, I must be innovative! Inventive! Enterprising! Hmmmm…

NARRATOR: Yoonah began strolling around the city, the wheels in her mind turning with each step. As she rounded a corner, she came upon flower shop. Its display window was teeming wit blossoms, but Yoonah noticed they weren’t nearly as gorgeous as the flowers she had received from her new friends at the farm.

And just like that…

YOONAH: (GASP) That’s it!!!!

NARRATOR: …a lightning bolt of an idea crackled across her mind.

YOONAH: I know exactly what I’ll do with my earnings! (beat) But first… I need some rice!

NARRATOR: What do you think Yoonah will do next?

What would you do if you were Yoonah?

We’ll find out what happens, after a quick break.

[BREAK]

NARRATOR: Welcome back to Circle Round. I’m Rebecca Sheir. Today our story is called “The Secret of Success.”

NARRATOR: Before the break, Yoonah journeyed to the city with a dream of buying her own house, and bringing her parents to live with her. On the way, she shared a pot of rice with some flower pickers, who sent her off with a breathtaking bouquet.

When Yoonah reached the city, she happened to overhear the most successful businesswoman in town share the secret of her success:

WOMAN 1: Business is all about supply and demand. If there’s a demand for something, you’d do well to supply it! And if you have a supply of something, you’d do well to create a demand. (beat) With enough imagination… you could pick up something as seemingly insignificant as a little brown mouse… and you could build a fortune!

NARRATOR: So Yoonah decided she would give it a go!

She sold a mouse to a desperate cat owner. Then she walked into a flower shop and gave the florist a friendly wave.

YOONAH: Hi there! I saw the flowers in your window and they’re quite nice. (beat) But I wonder – what do you think of these?

NARRATOR: When the florist saw Yoonah’s bouquet of roses, violets, lilies and tulips, his face grew bright.

FLORIST: I think they’re glorious! I’ve never grown anything nearly as beautiful in my nursery! My customers would flip over flowers like these. How do I get some?

YOONAH: Well, I’d be happy to supply them! I can bring you bunches of flowers, if you give me a little time. (beat) I’ll see you soon! Promise.

NARRATOR: Yoonah left the flower shop and hurried to the nearest grocery. She took out her five copper pieces, and held them out to the clerk.

YOONAH: Greetings! I’d like to buy a bag of dry white rice, please. Five copper pieces worth.

CLERK: Five copper pieces worth of dry white rice? Certainly! Here you go!

YOONAH: Thank you!

NARRATOR: Yoonah put the bag of rice in her knapsack, then retraced her steps out of the city and back toward the flower farm.

On the way, she filled her pot with water from a stream. She added the rice, lit a fire, and cooked the grains until they were fragrant and tender. Then she brought the pot to the flower pickers.

YOONAH: Hi, everyone! I brought you more rice. All I ask in return, if you don’t mind, are some of your beautiful flowers!

NARRATOR: The ravenous workers eagerly gobbled the rice, then invited Yoonah to pick as many flowers as she could carry.

YOONAH: Thank you!

NARRATOR: With arms full of roses, violets, lilies and tulips, Yoonah rushed back to the city and straight to the florist, whose eyes lit up when he saw her.

YOONAH: I told you I’d be back with a supply of flowers, and here they are! I can bring even more tomorrow.

FLORIST: I would love that! Here’s your payment!

YOONAH: Thank you!

NARRATOR: Just as Yoonah hoped, the moment the florist put her flowers in the display window, a stampede of people came bustling into the shop!

CUSTOMER 1: I’ll have a dozen flowers, please!

CUSTOMER 2: I’ll have two dozen!

NARRATOR: The florist’s face glowed with joy as he waited on his eager customers. Yoonah jostled through the crowd, then stepped out into the soft pink dusk of twilight.

YOONAH: My goodness! Is the sun setting already? Gosh, time sure flies when you’re being innovative, inventive, and enterprising! (beat) I’ll use some of my earnings to rent a hotel room and get some rest. I’ve got a big day tomorrow!

NARRATOR: The next morning, Yoonah woke up bright and early, then went back to the grocery and handed the clerk more coins in exchange for more rice.

YOONAH: Thank you!

NARRATOR: Her next stop was the flower farm, where she offered the flower pickers more rice in exchange for more flowers.

YOONAH: Thank you!

NARRATOR: She then circled back to the florist, who handed her a whole bunch of coins in exchange for the flowers!

YOONAH: Thank you!

NARRATOR: This routine continued for months. Yoonah bought some rice, she traded the rice for flowers, she sold the flowers, then she woke up the next day and did it all again. And soon she had made enough money to rent a small apartment – and buy a big wheelbarrow, so she could carry more flowers!

But as summer turned to fall, she knew she couldn’t keep her plan going forever. Colder weather meant flowers couldn’t grow. But she hadn’t yet made nearly enough money to buy her house and send for her parents! So as she was pushing her wheelbarrow home one brisk evening, she began to brainstorm a Plan B.

YOONAH: I need something innovative! Inventive! Enterprising! Like the businesswoman said, it’s all about supply and demand. And what’s in demand when the weather grows colder?

NARRATOR: The wheels in Yoonah’s mind were turning faster than the wheels on her wheelbarrow. When she reached the entrance to her apartment building, she noticed a distinctive scent in the air.

YOONAH: Is that… woodsmoke? Someone must be huddling up near their fireplace, trying to keep warm on this chilly autumn night.

NARRATOR: And then… just like that…

YOONAH: (GASP) That’s it!

NARRATOR: …another lightning bolt crackled across her brain.

YOONAH: I know exactly what my Plan B is!

NARRATOR: The next morning, she grabbed her wheelbarrow and made her usual trip to the grocery, where she purchased her usual dry white rice from the clerk.

CLERK: Here you go!

YOONAH: Thank you!

NARRATOR: But instead of cooking the rice and bringing it to the flower pickers, she cooked it up and brought it to the forest, where she found a crew of woodcutters chopping dead trees and sawing them into logs.

YOONAH: Good day! Looks like you’ve been working hard collecting all that wood! Perhaps you’d like some of my rice? All I ask in return are some of your logs!

NARRATOR: The woodcutters were delighted to take Yoonah up on her offer. They scarfed down the rice, then loaded her wheelbarrow with freshly-cut logs.

YOONAH: Thank you!

NARRATOR: Yoonah rushed back to the city. She left some of the logs in her apartment, then brought the rest to the marketplace, which was thrumming with shoppers.

YOONAH: Firewood here! Get your firewood! With winter on the way, it’ll keep you nice and warm!

NARRATOR: Customers immediately came flocking, all eager to pay good money for firewood.

CUSTOMER 3: I’ll have two-dozen logs, please!

CUSTOMER 4: I’ll have three-dozen!

YOONAH: Thank you! Thank you!

NARRATOR: Soon Yoonah was all out of wood… and energy. She carted her wheelbarrow back home, and then – you guessed it – she did it all again the next day!

She bought rice…

YOONAH: Thank you!

NARRATOR: She traded the rice for wood…

YOONAH: Thank you!

NARRATOR: …and after stashing a few logs in her apartment, she sold the rest at the market.

YOONAH: Thank you! Thank you!

NARRATOR: This routine went on for a little while. But then, a snowstorm blew in!

NARRATOR: It was the earliest, most vicious snowstorm anyone had ever seen. And so much ice, sleet, and snow came pelting down from the sky that no dry firewood could be found anywhere.

Well…

YOONAH: Dry firewood here!

NARRATOR: …maybe not anywhere!

YOONAH: Get your dry firewood! Soaking-wet wood’s no good for lighting fires, but this wood’s as dry as a bone!

NARRATOR: As you can imagine, there was quite a demand for the logs Yoonah had been so smartly stockpiling in her apartment.

CUSTOMER 5: I’ll have three-dozen logs, please!

CUSTOMER 6: I’ll have four-dozen!

YOONAH: Thank you!

NARRATOR: And once Yoonah was all out of her supply, she pushed her wheelbarrow through the knee-deep snow and went home. She pulled off her boots and her coat and boiled a cup of tea. Then she picked up a notebook and a pencil, and carefully tallied up all the savings she had accumulated since she arrived in the city.

When she saw the final number, she smiled.

Because thanks to the businesswoman’s advice – unintentional and accidental as it may have been – Yoonah realized she now had enough money to buy her house, and send for her parents.

And she did!

So in the end, I guess you could say that Yoonah didn’t just live happily ever after. She lived innovatively, inventively and enterprisingly ever after, too!