I’ve written several articles on the subject of the power of perspective, and that’s probably because I see so many examples of it in today’s business world.
For instance, as a father and a grandfather, I’ve always tried to share wisdom and basic truths with my kids and grandchildren in hopes of preparing them for the many challenges that await them as they grow older. I think of that as a very natural thing to do because, as adults, we have so much more experience and education from which to draw.
However, I must inwardly smile at the many times I’ve found just the opposite to be true … that some of life’s greatest lessons were imparted to me in a most revealing way from the younger spirits in my charge. So often is this the case.
That leads me to today’s generational gem. A dear friend e-mailed it to me with a short note explaining that she had received it from an associate, thought it was a wonderful piece and wanted to share it with me. I couldn’t help but notice that it was penned by my favorite author, Anonymous. I hope it brings a smile to your face as it did to mine.
The Difference between Rich/Poor People?
One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”
“It was great, Dad.”
“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.
“Oh yeah,” said the son.
“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.
The son answered:
“I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
“We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end.
“We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night.
“Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon.
“We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
“We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.
“We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
“We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.”
The boy’s father was speechless.
Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.”
Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don’t have.
About Harry K. Jones
Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.