The $25,000 Idea

Think About This: In 1912 efficiency expert Ivy Lee met with his prospective client, Charles Schwab who was President of Bethlehem Steel, and outlined how his organization could benefit the company. Lee ended his presentation by saying: "With our service, you'll know how to manage better." Schwab then stated: "We don't need more 'knowing' but need more 'doing.' If you can give us something to help us do the things we already know we ought to do, I'll gladly pay you anything within reason you ask." "I can give you something in twenty minutes that will step up your doing at least fifty percent," Lee answered. "Okay", Schwab said, "show me." Lee then handed Schwab a blank sheet of paper and said: "Write down the six most important tasks you have to do tomorrow in order of their importance. The first thing tomorrow morning look as item one and start working on it until it is finished." "Then tackle item two in the same way; and so on. Do this until quitting time. Don't be concerned if you have only finished one or two. Take care of emergencies, but then get back to working on the most important items. The others can wait." "Make this a habit every working day. Pass it on to those under you. Try it as long as you like, then send me your check for what you think it's worth." In a few weeks, Schwab sent Lee a check for $25,000 (over $500,000 in today’s dollars) with a letter stating that he learned a profitable lesson. After five years this plan was largely responsible for turning the unknown Bethlehem Steel Company into the nation’s largest independent steel producer. Schwab purportedly made a hundred million dollars and became the best known steel man in the world. ~ Author Unknown ~

Plant with Integrity

Think About This: A successful businessman was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over his business. He called his executives together and said, "It's time for me to step down and choose a replacement." "I am going to give you each a 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 you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."
A 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, but nothing ever grew.
A year went by and all the executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Jim didn't want to take his empty pot. But his wife urged 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 he arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful in all shapes and sizes.
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room. Then he spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. The CEO asked Jim what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story. He looked at Jim, and then announced, "Behold your new CEO! His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it.
Then the CEO explained, "One year ago today, I gave a seed to each of you. I told you take the seed plant 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!"
Be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.