The 10-Inch Frying Pan: How Expectations Shape Your Future

Back in 1979, John Maxwell wrote “Think on These Things” and shared this fishing story.

There’s a story about a boy fishing in a pond while an older man fished nearby. The main idea is simple: your expectations shape what you keep and what you let go. The man noticed that whenever the boy caught a fish, he would measure it with his hand. Strangely, if the fish was big, the boy would throw it back, but if it was small, he kept it. The older man had never seen anyone do this before, so he made his way over to the boy and asked, “I noticed you’re keeping the small fish but throwing the big ones back. Why are you doing that?” The boy replied, “Well, sir, that’s easy. I can’t keep the big ones; I only have a 10-inch frying pan.”

Three Dimensions of Expectation – John Maxwell Leadership Podcast

Often, our expectations shape the way we live. If our expectations are small, like having only a ten-inch frying pan, we limit ourselves. When we set higher expectations, we open up more opportunities and can achieve more. But if our expectations are unrealistic, we may end up disappointed.