Whatever You Give to Life, It Gives Back to You. It’s a saying that has defied diminution over the centuries.
The implication of this is that, in life, you have a lot of contributions to make to your earthly experience.
What you become on the earth, what you achieve in life, the quality of your mindset, and the level of your self-actualisation, all depend significantly, on your your inputs.
Have you heard of the term: Mind Over Matter?
It suggests that your mind is more powerful than any external variable that feeds into your psyche. Take care of your mind and your mind will take care of your experience and outcomes.
They look the same but be patient with me. The first addresses attacks and wars you are waging against yourself while the second addresses the external attacks against your mind.
A Tendered Growing Plant. Photo Credit: @gettyimages
Years ago, 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 and meaningful to him.
He called all the young executives in his company together.
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 the seed I have given you.
Whatever You Give to Life, It Gives Back to You
I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.”
A Willing Seed. Photo Credit: @gettyimages
(Note- A seed is the part of a seed plant which can grow into a new plant. It is a reproductive structure which disperses and can survive for some time. A typical seed includes three basic parts: (1) an embryo, (2) a supply of nutrients for the embryo, and (3) a seed coat).
One man, named Adepeju, 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 had grown.
After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.
Seed Pot. Photo Credit:@pixabay
Adepeju 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 Adepeju didn’t have a plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by — still nothing in Adepeju’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed.
Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing.
Adepeju didn’t say anything to his colleagues because he often felt very sad about his seed not growing as expected, however, he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil – He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Adepeju told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot for presentation but her beloved wife asked him to be honest about what happened.
Adepeju felt sick to his stomach, about his wife’s piece of advice, 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.
Whatever You Give to Life, It Gives Back to You
When Adepeju arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were colourful — in all shapes and sizes.
Adepeju put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed at him, a few felt sorry for him while some called him a failure!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Adepeju just tried to hide in the back. “
Flower Pots. Photo Credit: @gettyimages
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 Adepeju at the back of the room with his empty pot.
He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Adepeju was terrified.
He thought, “The CEO knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!”
When Adepeju got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed – Adepeju told him the story without missing words.
The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Adepeju.
He looked at Adepeju, and then announced to the young executives, “Behold your next Chief Executive Officer (CEO)! His full name is Mr. Adepeju Adeoye!”
Adepeju couldn’t believe it. Adepeju couldn’t even grow his 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; they were dead – it was not possible for them to grow because they have no life zing them.
All of you, except Adepeju, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.
When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you.
Adepeju was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it.
Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)!
Always remember, 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. So, be careful what you plant now; because it will determine what you will reap later…
A confident lady. Proactive, adaptable, direct and conscientious professional with “I can do” attitude and willingness to work, write and lead by example. Overcome challenges with a systemic, analytical and diligent approach while drawing on experience and education- induced knowledge.
