Legend says that once the Emperor of Japan wanted the most beautiful crab painting in the world. His minister of art brought to him the best artist in the country. The Emperor said to him, "If you paint the most beautiful crab painting in the world for me, I will cover you in gold. What do you need?"

The painter said, "I need a castle by the beach with many servants and five years to paint it."

The Emperor gave him what he asked. Five years later, the Emperor summoned the painter and asked, "Where is the painting?"

The painter requested three more years. The Emperor granted his wish.

Three years later, the Emperor summoned the painter again, and the artist asked for two more years. The Emperor conceded again but started to grow impatient.

Two years later, the painter asked for one more year. The Emperor conceded again but was extremely displeased and said, "Next time, you must come with the painting or you will be executed."

One year later, the Emperor summoned the painter again and said, "If you don't have the painting, I will execute you. Where is the painting?"

The painter replied, "I don't have it. I have not even started painting it."

The Emperor gave the order to execute the painter, when the artist said: "Wait, give me a canvas, a brush, and ink."

The Emperor ordered his subjects to give him what he asked. The painter then took the materials and, with just a few strokes, painted the most beautiful crab painting in the world.

Moral of the story: The painter didn't spend all those years doing nothing and just having a good time at the beach in a castle full of servants. No, not at all. He spent all those years studying the crabs at the beach and maturing his art to perfection, to the point where he could paint the most beautiful crab painting at any given moment with just a few brush strokes.