The Seed

by Mike Buck

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

Author unknown.

Ethical Dilemma

by Mike Buck

You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night,

when you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus:

1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.

2. An old friend who once saved your life.

3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing

that there could only be one passenger in your car.

Think before you continue reading.

This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.

You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first.

Or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back.

However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.

The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer.

He simply answered:

“I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital.

 I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams.”

Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations.

Never forget to ‘Think outside of the Box.’

Author Unknown

10 Commandments of Leadership

by Mike Buck

Ten Commandments of Leadership

• Treat everyone with respect & dignity.

• Set the example for others to follow.

• Be an active coach.

• Maintain the highest standard of honesty and integrity.

• Insist on excellence and hold your people accountable.

• Build group cohesiveness and pride.

• Show confidence in your people.

• Maintain sense of urgency.

• Be available and visible to your staff.

• Develop yourself to your highest potential.

Author John C. Sense

October 29 2009

by Mike Buck

LEADERSHIP

“Remember the difference between a boss and a leader; a boss says ‘Go!’ – a leader says ‘Let’s go!’” — E.M. Kelly

“Leadership is about magnetic communication. Leaders have a way of communicating that draws people toward the vision, and the horizon.” — Doug Firebaugh

“If you wish others to believe in you, you must first convince them that you believe in them.” — Harvey Mackay

“Managers help people to see themselves as they are. Leaders help people to see themselves better than they are.” — Jim Rohn

LEARNING/EDUCATION

“I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.” — Maya Angelou

“Nothing in education is so astonishing as the amount of ignorance it accumulates in the form of inert facts.” — Henry Adams

“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” — Aristotle

“It is no longer correct to regard higher education solely as a privilege. It is a basic right in today’s world.” — Norman Cousins

LIFE/LIVING

“Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.” — Rose Kennedy

“Where I was born and where and how I have lived is unimportant. It is what I have done with where I have been that should be of interest.” — Georgia O´Keeffe

“Life is too important to be taken seriously.” — Oscar Wilde

“A happy life is one which is in accordance with its own nature.” — Marcus Annaeus Seneca

“All improvement in your life begins with an improvement in your mental pictures.” Brian Tracy

The Difference Between Strength and Courage

by Mike Buck

It takes strength to be firm,
It takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to stand guard,
It takes courage to let down your guard.

It takes strength to conquer,
It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to be certain,
It takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in,
It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend’s pain,
It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide your own pains,
It takes courage to show them.

It takes strength to endure abuse,
It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone,
It takes courage to lean on another.

It takes strength to love,
It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.

Author Unknown

The Hines Story as told to Mike Buck

by Mike Buck

The owner of the Hines Lumber Company recently had to fill a top executive position. Two of his managers with equal experience were considered but the choice went to the man who had fewer years with the company. Upon learning of the promotion the other man asked Mr. Hines why he wasn’t the one selected. Instead of answering him, Mr. Hines asked him if any lumber had come in that day. The man said he would check and a few minutes later reported that a carload had arrived that morning. Mr. Hines then wanted to know what type of lumber. After again checking the manager told him it was a number 6 pine. Mr. Hines then asked the man how many board feet were in the order. Again leaving the room to check he returned shortly with the answer of 3500 board feet. This type of questioning went on for several minutes and then Mr. Hines asked the man to go into the next room leaving the door ajar so he could still hear.

Mr. Hines then called in the manager who had been promoted and asked him if any lumber had arrived that day. The manager said he would check and in a few minutes he returned with the following answer. A carload of number 6 pine had come in on track three at 9:30 am and totaled 3500 board feet. The lumber was unloaded by 2:00 pm and stored in warehouse number 18. It was order number 65-03 for the Williams Company and its total value was $16,352.00.

Mr. Hines thanked the man and said he could go. After the second man left he called in the first manager who had heard the entire conversation. The first manager said he knows now why the other man had been promoted instead of himself.

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