We begin with the cat, who has overheard his master talking about how he plans to eat the cat and then starve to death. Basically, he believes failure is final; but, the cat just knows better. He consoles his master and then asks for his famous wardrobe change.

The key to viewing failure as an option is to bear in mind the difference between that which is possible and that which is probable; choices. A possible outcome is just one of one of any number of outcomes deriving from choices yet to be made. A probable outcomes is an outcome toward which you are already headed due to choices already made.

When we embrace failure as an option we not only view it as a possibility that can be avoided, but we also lift its veil of grand finality by holding in our minds the knowledge that even after we “fail” there are more choices to be made and chances to be had. This brings us to the issue of decision fatigue - or ego depletion - wherein just thinking about the infinite puzzle pieces of possibility can so exhaust us that we are deterred from even trying. This, in turn, shows us that the probable makes for a great aid to the possible.

Every move we make is a decision made is a little more of our creative fire spent. By simplifying certain parts of our daily routine we can free up headspace and mental energy for more important things. Having a life uniform and planning meals for the week are just two examples that can make a difference.

The cat’s master, the miller’s son, isn’t convinced and yet he can’t deny he’s seen the at do some pretty clever things. So the next bit of “translation” helps connect the dots between doubt and hope.

Then, the cat gets to work hunting and impressing the king and talking up his master to the point of renaming him the Marquis of Carabas. He does it all because he wants to (he could have very easily run from his master and let the guy starve without getting eaten himself).

Do something every day (or week, just don’t space it out too far or you’ll risk losing momentum) that will bring you toward some goal. You’ll want a specific goal, reasonably sized, with a deadline. Exact steps are nice, but use them as guidelines rather than steadfast rules; the only thing steadfast should be your commitment, your decision to live your life by your terms.

When you then make a measurable amount of progress toward your goal. share your progress. Call someone, start a hashtag, do something that makes your journey solid and real to the world around you. Somewhere out there someone else knows “something is not right” and just needs proof that they’re not the only one.

Having gotten his boot in the castle door, the cat does some more hunting and more impressing and is able to see the reward of the work he is doing.

The original story reveals that the cat does all of his hard work over the course of about three months; not too long, not too short, it’s just the amount of time his project needs. All the while, his work is bringing a spark to those he encounters along the way.

Then, the king and his daughter are on the move and the cat sees his big break, the perfect opportunity to get his master in front of the king without accidentally revealing his peasantry. This next bit of “translation” also does some foreshadowing for the follow-up book I’m planning (gotta keep my momentum going and all).

As you continue toward your ultimate goal your intuition will also go to work trying to help you. If you’ve been going after your goal for a long time you will start to notice opportunitis and resources that can help you along. This is how your intuition helps.

Your intuitions, or guts instincts, are how your subconscious mind communicates with your conscious mind. it will notice opportunities and resources before you are even aware of them. If you have a feeling that a certain action of thing could help you toward your goal, that feeling is worth investigating (assuming you haven’t already gone ahead and dived in without a second thought).

In the story, this is where we see “Marquis of Carabas” in quotes for the last time, when the miller’s son jumps into the river in accordance with the cat’s plan. There’s a bit of a baptismal effect here, but I’ll get to that in a later draft. Right now, we’re all about executing the plan.

Some of the ideas your gut comes up with will be so small you might not think it worth your time to even try. Yet it is more important to follow these smaller ideas. For if they seem too small to do any good, chances are they are also too small to do any harm. And what’s a little risk of a little time spent trying out something a little different?

Especially when you consider how that little thing, on top of all your previous efforts, could result in something pretty great.

The next bit of “translation” is a little unique in that what I wrote is shorter than the original. Haha. That’ll change in later drafts as I talk about the baptismal effect I mentioned before and also work more to talk about the actual story and how it relates to each of us as individuals so that it won’t be stiff in language. If you’re wondering where we are the story, the king’s men have pulled the marquis of the river and he and the princess have fallen in love and the three of them (king, princess, marquis) are all going for a lovely ride while the cat keeps working).

And the cat keeps working … 

And, now, I’m off to keep working!