Introduction
Cinderella is a story that resonates with most people in one way or another within the course of their lifetime. This is because the story explores a fable-like element of unexpected success amidst oppression and unfair treatment (Orenstein 50). The story, a European folk tale, is about a beautiful young girl, Cinderella, who lives in a household where she gets mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters. She does not get new thinks such as items of clothing and other necessities and has to rely on “hand-me-downs” from her siblings. To add to her misery, she is subjected to hard labor and mistreated. However, her misfortune turns to great fortune when one day, having been left to attend to house chores while he sisters attended a princely ball, a fairy appears. She gets Cinderella a beautiful dress and horse carriage and sets her upon the journey to the palace. Once there, she dances with the prince but has to leave just before midnight as the fairy had instructed. In her hurry to leave and the prince pursuing her, she loses one of her shoes. The next day the prince begins to look for her, believing that only the girl whose leg fitted into the shoe would be who he was looking for. After trying all the girls in the kingdom, the shoe fits on Cinderella’s foot. The Prince marries her and they live happily ever after. This paper presents a circumstance in my life that is similar to Cinderella’s and how it changed my perspective to life.
The story of Cinderella has applied in different situations in my life. Perhaps the most notable and recent one, however, was when I started an online business dealing with the resale of used motorcycle parts. This is similar to the story of Cinderella because when I wanted to begin the business, many of my friends and family members doubted me. They did not bother to assist me with the financial capital I needed to kick-off. They defended their position, claiming that online businesses would be the most hit by the global economic recession, whose effects were still evident in business. However, since I had always wanted to have my own internet business, I did not despair but believed in my business idea and model. I had set out to target the motorbike lovers market which I could easily access through social media groups and through referrals. Despite the discouragement from those around me, I managed to get a loan from a stranger I had met on social media. To me, this was like how the fairy godmother had appeared out of thin air and helped Cinderella out of her situation just before the ball at the palace. I set up the business website and displayed some of the motor cycle parts I had accumulated over the years. Within just two days of existence, I had already received five emails with orders for parts. This situation proved to me that hope is very important in life. Hope is the best weapon against obstacles in life and particularly in business.
Secondly, besides the money I needed to start off the business, I also needed to have a small garage and store which would act as a warehouse for the business. This is where I would keep the motorcycle parts and perform any repairs that needed to be done on them. The process of welding and grinding soon began to lead to a lot of noise and the neighbors began to complain. After just one week of operations, the authorities ordered my small team and I to stop the repairs as they were causing the neighbors too much distraction. At this point, I did not know what to do. The garage was situated at the backyard of our family house. This meant that I did not have to pay any rent for it. Relocating would not be good for the business. This is because I would be forced to rent space in an urban space. This would lead to additional expenses in rental fees, which I had not considered when budgeting for the few financial resources I had. I decided to take a risk and use the little money that was remaining to rent a small garage about a mile from our family house. It belonged to a family friend who did not have neighbors and who was never in his house. This represents an example of near despair just before redemption. This is very similar to the Cinderella story because in a situation where everything was going wrong, something wonderful happened. My business has since grown to commendable amounts and I am able to pay a group of five workers and to pay for the rent. Recently, I was approached by the administrator of a Facebook page on motorbikes. The arrangement was that I would get customer referrals at a commission. I believe that this is a situation of “Happily ever after” despite the rough start.
The situation with my online business has taught me that perseverance is important in life. Just when things are not going according to plan, it is when one should keep the faith and keep working hard. My perspective on life and challenges has since changed. I have become braver when challenges arise and more prepared to deal with unforeseen hurdles. This story has also taught me about the value of true friendship and about making business relations with strategic partners who can help in the advancement of a business or idea. The story of Cinderella is an inspiration because I can relate to it on different levels.
Conclusion
The story of Cinderella is one which many people can relate in different instances of their life. This is because, like Cinderella, many people have faced challenges and situations of great oppression or injustice and have emerged successful against all odds. It is also about receiving help from an unlikely source (Orenstein 50). To me, this story resonates with the challenges that I faced while starting an online business. I faced discouragement from family and friends who did not believe in my idea. I can equate this to the mistreatment that Cinderella suffers at the hands of her stepmother and stepsisters. However, I managed to get a loan from a stranger whom I met online and began my business on a high note. Another challenge I faced involved getting a garage where the noise from our repairing activities would not disturb the neighbors. I also overcame this challenge and proceeded to succeed my business. Overcoming these challenges has since shaped my life by making me sharper and more resistant to challenges. The story of Cinderella is an inspiration to me because I can relate to her plight and eventual triumph.
Work Cited
Orenstein, Peggy. “What’s Wrong with Cinderella?” Composing Gender. Rachel Groner and John O'Hara. Boston, Mass.: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. Print.
