Johann Sebastian Bach was and remains one of the most famous composers of classical music. After Bach’s death – in 1750 (18th century) – the world quickly forgot this great man. It was like that until one day in the 19th century, the German composer Felix Mendelssohn entered a butcher’s shop to shop. The butcher wrapped the meat in music paper, which this excellent composer did not miss. When he got home, Mendelssohn unwrapped the meat, took the sheet music, went to the piano and began to play.
He was trying to recognize the melody, but he didn’t know who the composer was. This frustrated him because it was an excellent composition. Visibly relieved, he returned to the butcher and asked the butcher to tell him where he got the paper in which he wraps the meat.
The butcher said he found the paper in the attic of the house he bought. There was still a large pile of papers there. The composer asked the butcher to sell him all the sheet music he had. It took Mendelssohn three years to arrange all the compositions and arrange each page in its place.
He could not find out who the composer of these works was because during the first half of the 19th century nobody knew who Bach was. When he finished arranging the compositions, he chose his favorites and arranged a concert. Thus, Johann Sebastian Bach returned to the big stage.
One man spent three years of his life and work to revive the works of a then unknown composer. He did not know him, nor was he his contemporary, but he showed what it means to be a man in the true sense of the word. By reviving the works of an unknown composer, he also revived his own success.
We can also be like the “butcher” and drop the treasure in front of our noses. We can be like Mendelssohn and notice that seemingly ordinary paper hides the most beautiful compositions composed by the human hand.
It’s the same in business. Successful people make everything out of the right opportunity, and unsuccessful people tap in place because they don’t see opportunities right in front of their noses.
