Old Parables Relating To Business

There is an ancient parable, created this very instant, that relates a tale of two children playing in a farm field. Child One, the older, yet less wise child, is bored. Child One, an impatient and ignorant youth, felt unsatisfied with his station in life. Because of this, he alienated the other children by acting superior, offering advice when it is not warranted or necessary, and not acknowledging what others had to offer. Child Two, a generally okay youth, understood that as time wore on, his station would improve. Because of this, he did not spend time trying to artificially enhance his life, he knew his life would naturally improve if he practiced patience and integrity.

While in the field, Child One decided to pick up a pellet of poo and threw it towards Child Two. "Why did you do that?" Child Two asked.

"I'm trying to come up with a way to help make you better," Child One said.

Child Two immediately knew this answer did not make sense. He asked once more, "Why did you do that?"

Child One, declined to answer, picked up another pellet, and threw it at Child Two. This repeated itself for two whole hours until finally a farmer walked by. The farmer, looked at the area Child One stood in and smiled. "You have cleaned my field, thank you." He then looked at Child Two, covered in mud and poo with a disapproving glare. "But you, your area is filthy, and you appear unkempt."

The farmer then handed Child One three quarters for his unsolicited work. The children started to walk home together. Child Two, upset, asked Child One, "Why again did you spend all afternoon flinging poo and mud upon me?"

Child One, drew on his past experience, "You see, I have worked in fields for so long, I knew that by making an area clean, we would earn enough quarters for iced cream later this eve." While he spoke, neither noticed the farmer approach the boys. The farmer grabbed the first child's hand.

"When I handed you those quarters, I noticed your hands were filthy and it got me a thinkin'." He then turned to the other boy, "Let me see your hands." Child Two turned his palms towards the farmer. His palms, completely clean, contrasted with the rest of his body. "Just as I thought," said the old man. He took the quarters out of Child One's hand, turned away, and left.

The two boys walked home, quarterless, dirty, and no more improved then they had started that day. Child Two, as they arrived home, turned towards the other boy and said, "Goodbye. Please leave me be, and do not come over tomorrow."

The moral: In time, he who dirties his hands by slinging poo upon his friends will be caught, ruined, and penniless.

Now, if any of you actually read this parable, you are probably wondering why in the heck I chose to write it. Let's just say I took issue with a coworker at my place of business that single-handedly wiped out the little trust eight others had in him by glory-seeking. Without going in to detail, let's just trust the Businessman when he says the fastest way to ruin your reputation is by showing ZERO integrity. On the plus side, I got to end my weekend by telling a big, silly moron just exactly how I felt about him. Business if brutal kids.