Whenever someone with a lot of money but little hunting experience arrived in Viscos, he would take them out to a piece of waste ground. There, he would place a beer can on top of a stone. Then he would stand about fifty yards from the can and, with a single shot, send it flying.
'I'm the best shot in the region,' he would say. 'And now you're going to learn how to become as good as me.'
He replaced the can on the same stone, walked back to where he had stood before, took a handkerchief out of his pocket and asked the newcomer to blindfold him. Then he aimed once more in the direction of the target and fired again.
'Did I hit it?' he would ask, removing the blindfold.
'Of course not,' the new arrival would say, pleased to see the proud guide humbled. 'You missed it by a mile. I don't think there's anything you can teach me.'
'I've just taught you the most important lesson in life,' Berta's husband would reply. 'Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit their target with their eyes closed.'
- From The Devil and Miss Prym By Paulo Coelho
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