A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20
bill. In
the room of 200, he asked, "What is this piece of paper & is it
worth
anything?"
"It is a $20 bill, encashable in international & national
markets for its
quoted value?" replied one of the many participants who raised
their
hands.
He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up using both his hands
till it
became a bundle of wrinkled paper. He then unfolded it again and
making an
unsuccessful attempt to keep it
straight he asked, "Would you still be able to negotiate it for
it's
quoted value?"
" Yes!!" was the echoing reply from the participants.
"Well," he said, "Looks like I haven't done enough! What if I do
this?"
And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the
floor
with his shoe. He picked it up, which was now all crumpled, dirty,
defaced
& not easy to recognise from a distance. "Now will some one
like to trade
it for its quoted value?" Many hands went in the air.
"I think this piece of currency is still holding its quoted
value,¡¨
replied a participant in a slightly unsure voice. "This bill can
still
fetch goods worth 20 Dollars,¡¨ said the other participants. Every
one
agreed.
"My friends, there is a very valuable lesson in this exercise that
we are
just through with. It may have appeared to some of you, that I was
able to
deshape, deface, mutilate & alter the $20 bill during the
process as the
effects were quite visible". "However, No matter what I did to this
piece
of paper, you still upheld its negotiability because you were sure
in your
mind that my actions did not actually decrease its value. It was
still a
currency note worth $20".
"Many times in our lives, we feel like as if we are dropped,
crumpled, and
ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and/or the
circumstances
that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. It may also
appear
to onlookers as if it has really happened to certain extent. But no
matter
what has happened or what will happen, please remember you never
lose your
"Value"."
Values that you cherish are indeed devoid of worldly disturbance
& always
are your saviour.
Many a times, we judge people and ourselves through outer
appearance. We
spend so much time and money to groom ourselves but forget to
cultivate
our inner soul and mind with education and reading. You may be
unwashed,
dirty and shabby but don¡¦t forget that little integrity, honesty
and
righteousness you possess. No matter how miserable and devastated
you are
during times of adversities, your wealth of experience and
knowledge are
still an asset. Failure is the mother of all success.
