What You Sow Is What You Reap

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choosea successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of hisdirectors or his children, he decided to do something different.He called all the young executives in his company together."It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO," he said. "Ihave decided to choose one of you."The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am goingto give each one of you a seed today - a very special seed. I want youto plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today withwhat you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judgethe 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, receiveda seed.He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him geta pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed.Every day, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. Afterabout three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk abouttheir seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim keptchecking 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 andhe felt like a failure.Six months went by - still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he hadkilled his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he hadnothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He justkept watering and fertilizing the soil - he so wanted the seed to grow.A year finally went by and all the young executives of the companybrought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife thathe wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honestabout what happened.Jim felt sick at his stomach. It was going to be the most embarrassingmoment of his life, but he knew his wife was right.He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazedat the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They werebeautiful--in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floorand many of his colleagues laughed. A few felt sorry for him!When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his youngexecutives.Jim just tried to hide in the back."My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said theCEO."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 hisempty 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 hewill have me fired!"When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to hisseed.Jim told him the story.The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, andthen announced to the young executives, "Here is your next ChiefExecutive! His name is Jim!"Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could hebe the new CEO the others said?Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room aseed.I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to metoday. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was notpossible 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 anotherseed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage andhonesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the onewho will be the new Chief Executive!"Moral: If you plant honesty, you will reap trustIf you plant goodness, you will reap friends.If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentmentIf 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 reaplater.