Who you are will eventually be visible.
Don’t ignore your core and time spent building our values is time well spent. Remember, that your character is revealed under pressure.
Here’s a story that highlights the importance of values further. Before you read the story, consider this question, “How would you explain integrity to a young child?”.
Roger Jenkins, noted storyteller, explained integrity as “The ability to do the right thing or choosing to do the right thing when you could get away with doing the wrong thing.”
And I concur!
As an old Irish saying goes….
“Three apples fell from the tree.
One for he who tells the story
One for he or she who reads and listens
One for he or she who understands.”
You will have one apple when you read this and hopefully, you get at least 2 apples!!
Read on —
“JEWELS UNDER THE SADDLE”
A merchant on a casual jaunt through a market came across a fine specimen of a camel for sale. The merchant and the camel seller, both skilled negotiators, struck a hard bargain. The camel seller pleased with his skill of worming out what he felt was a very good price, parted with his camel and the merchant chuffed that he had struck a fantastic bargain, proudly walked home with the latest addition to his large livestock.
On arriving home, the merchant called to his servant to come and help him take out the camel’s saddle. The unwieldy heavily padded saddle being too difficult for the servant to manage on his own. Hidden under the saddle, the servant found a small velvet pouch that on opening he discovered to be filled with precious jewels!!
The servant was overexcited!!! “Master you bought a camel…..but see what came FREE along with it.” The merchant was astonished as he looked at the jewels in his servants’ palm. They were of extraordinary quality sparkling and twinkling in the sunlight.
“I bought the camel, he said, “not the jewels. I must return them to the camel seller immediately. The servant was aghast ….. his master was foolish. “Master…..no one will know.”
But the merchant headed right back to the market and handed over the velvet pouch back to the camel seller. The camel seller was very happy, “ I had forgotten that I hid these jewels in the saddle for safekeeping.”
“Here, choose one of the jewels for yourself, as a reward.”
The merchant said, “I paid a fair price for the camel and the camel only, so NO thank you, I do not need any reward.” But as much as the merchant refused, the camel seller insisted.
Finally, the merchant said, sheepishly smiling, “ Actually when I decided to bring the pouch back to you, I already took two of the most precious jewels and kept them for myself.” At this confession, the camel seller was a bit flabbergasted and quickly emptied the pouch to count the jewels. However, he was very confused.
“All my jewels are here. What jewels did you keep?
“The two most precious,” said the camel seller.
“My INTEGRITY and my SELF RESPECT”.
Here are some insights to glean from this story:
- Your integrity is irreplaceable, it will guide you and secure your destiny (see proverbs)
- Time spent on building your core and value system is well spent and expedient
- These are some of the most precious jewels that money can not buy, a good name, integrity, words, and your self-respect.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
#DrFlo
Dr. Flo is a #Hybrid Leader, a Leadership & Business Advisory Consultant & Executive Coach. The Co-Founder, The Hybrid Leadership Institute and the host of The Leadership Coach Podcast on iTunes & Spotify.
Read more on leadership, coaching and personal development -
- On Forbes, www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/people/flofalayi
- On my blog, www.flofalayi.com/blog
- Follow me on Twitter @drflofalayi
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