[Wondergirl]

A successful businessman 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.

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He said, "In a year, I will 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 that seed. I will then judge you based on the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."

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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. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it was spouting.

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 pot, but nothing ever sprouted

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Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, and 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 figured he had somehow killed his seed. Everyone else had small trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however, but just kept watering and fertilizing the soil. He so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.

Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot, but she said to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, since 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 boardroom.

When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes.

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Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, and a few even felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim tried to disappear 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 asked him to come to the front. Jim was terrified and thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"

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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. He couldn't even grow a 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 that were dead. It was impossible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that your seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for it. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with the original 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; since it will determine what you will reap later.

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