A successful business man was growing older and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of the company’s directors or one of his children, he decided to do something different. 

He called all the young executives in his company together for a meeting. He said to them, “It is time for me to step down and to choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you.”

The young executives were shocked and surprised, 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 to show me what you have grown from the seed you are given. 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 and what he was to do with the seed. She helped him get a pot, soil, and fertilizer…and he planted the seed.

Everyday, Jim would check on the plant, water it as needed, and examine it to see if it had sprouted. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and their 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 even have a sprout…and, he felt like a failure.

Six months went by — still nothing grew in Jim’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had a picture of their 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 that seed to grow.

A year finally went by and it was the day all of the young executives of the company were to bring their plants to the CEO for inspection.

Jim told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But, she told him to be honest and relate about what happened with his plant. 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 — their plants had grown in all shapes and sizes.

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

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to be inconspicuous in the back of the room.

“My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,” said the CEO. “Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!”

It was then that 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…about watering and caring for it, but to no avail!

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then made an announcement to the young executives, “Let’s give a round of applause to your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!”

Jim couldn’t believe it; he had not been able to even grow his seed!

“How could he be the new CEO?” the others said.

Then the CEO explained, “One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told each of you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to show it to me. But, I gave each of you 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 you were given. 

Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with the dead seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who deserves to be the new Chief Executive Officer!”

- Author Unknown

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Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.  Proverbs 11:1 ESV

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.
If you plant faith in God, you will reap a harvest.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 ESV

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Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

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If you liked this story and would like a copy of either of Ken’s books,
they are available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format:

If you have a story or testimony that you think might bless others,
I invite you to send it by email to godsotherways@me.com.

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