Are you a carrot, Egg or Coffee?
After seeing the movie 49 Up (the latest installment in the 7Up series) it became clearer to me that everyone faces adversity in their life, be that personal or professional, and that those who thrive deal with it in different ways.
It also reminded me of a story a good friend sent me three years ago. Unfortunately the author is unknown but the content is food for thought.
A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and in the last, he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes, he turned off the burners. He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her he asked, "Darling, what do you see?"
"Carrots, eggs and coffee," she replied.
He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally her asked her to sip the coffee. She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. She humbly asked, "What does it mean Father?"
He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you," he asked his daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"
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Personally speaking
Calling Executive Coaches
Over the past year the demand for Happening People’s Executive Coaching Services has risen substantially, which is very satisfying.
In 2007 I will be looking for more qualified people to work with my company as HP Executive Coaches. There will be a range of roles and all will offer flexible working conditions, perfect for people who have other commitments including primary careers of children.
This is not a ‘life coaching’ role as HP Executive Coaches must be degree qualified (preferably in business and with a masters) plus have coaching qualifications and a minimum of 10 years operational/senior managerial experience in large organisations.
If this is you for 2007 please email your CV directly to me.
Kind regards, Sam
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