Marie forwarded this story to her brothers and I thought you might all enjoy reading it. I know I did. Let me know what you think.
A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.
He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however, he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at
the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.
"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said.
Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"
* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
* If you plant hard work, you will reap success
* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.
8 comments:
Kathy I loved this story!!! Isn't it funny how we are always comparing ourselves to others, or always feel the need to be first and the best, and yet all we really need to is our best and it usually works out okay? Thank you for sharing this!!!
I loved this story. Thanks for sharing.
Kathy, what a great story Marie sent to her brothers. It always pays to be honest.
How much better our world would be today if everyone were honest.
This is my opinion but I think people are not being honest when they are paid to work at a job and not doing much of anything but putting in their hours.
Great story, makes you wonder what you would have done in the same situation? Honesty always is best, it is not always the easiest - but it works out for the best in the end.
Thanks for sharing.
It was a great story. I love the message in it.
That truly was a remarkable story and one that I will share in RS. Our Heavenly Father gave us a gift of a seed to do with it what we wanted. Each seed grew differently some became trees, others flowers and sadly some just stayed as they were.
When we leave this world and prepare to meet Our Savior again. How will we report the work we have done. Did we help someone in need, did we teach our children well. Or did we just stand silent and watch doing nothing.
I hope in my life I became the seed Heavenly Father knew I could be.
The foolish young executives didn't realize that their boss KNEW what type of seeds he gave to them...why would you go out and find any kind of seed to plant if yours wouldn't grow?
Loved the story Kathy & even had Darren read it. He is going to print it & read at one of his Bishopric meetings. They have to share special thoughts or stories. This one is quite powerful & teaches the principle of integrity with class! I love the statement that Elder Richard G. Scott made in his Conference talk last October, "The bedrock of character is integrity. It is nobility of character,that fabric of inner strength and conviction woven from countless righteous decisions, that give life it's direction. A consistent righteous life produces an inner power and strength that can be permanently resistant to the eroding of influence of sin and transgression..." This reminds me of the guy in the story and how despite those around him, and how he felt like a failure because despite his best efforts, his seed did not grow. He felt inferior to his fellow workers & embarrassed, but with his wife's support and influence, he stood up for what he believed and in the end he was blessed. He did not compromise his standards or his character. Everyone there that day learned a very powerful and life altering lesson that day. I hope we will all remember this story the next time we even think of telling a "little white lie." We cannot compromise our morals, values or standards for anyone or anything! Tell Marie thank you for sharing this with you & thank you for sharing it with us! Love ya! Vicki
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