Eric and Thomas joined a company together a few months after their graduation from university.
After a few years of work, their Manager promoted Eric to a position of Senior Sales Manager, but Thomas remained in his entry level Junior Sales Officer position. Thomas developed a sense of jealousy and disgruntlement, but continued working anyway.
One day Thomas felt that he could not work with Eric anymore. He wrote his resignation letter, but before he submitted it to the Manager, he complained that Management did not value hard working staff, but only promoted only the favoured!
The Manager knew that Eric worked very hard for the years he had spent at the company; even harder than Thomas and therefore he deserved the promotion. So in order to help Thomas to realize this, the Manager gave Thomas a task.
“Go and find out if anyone is selling water melons in town?”
Thomas returned and said, "yes there is someone!"
The Manager asked, "how much per kg?" Thomas drove back to town to ask and then returned to inform the Manager; "they are 13.50 per kg!"
The Manager told Thomas, "I will give Eric the same task that I gave you. Please pay close attention to his response!"
So the Manager said to Eric, in the presence of Thomas; “Go and find out if anyone is selling water melons in town?”
Eric went to find out and on his return he said:
"Manager, there is only one person selling water melons in the whole town. The cost is 49.00 for each water melon and 32.50 for a half melon. He sells them at 13.50 per kg when sliced. He has in his stock 93 melons, each one weighing about 7kg. He has a farm and can supply us with melons for the next 4 months at a rate of 102 melons per day at 27.00 per melon; this includes delivery.
The melons appear fresh and red with good quality, and they taste better than the ones we sold last year.
He has his own slicing machine and is willing to slice for us free of charge.
We need to strike a deal with him before 10am tomorrow and we will be sure of beating last year's profits in melons by
223,000.00. This will contribute positively to our overall performance as it will add a minimum of 3.78% to our current overall sales target.
I have put this information down in writing and is available on spreadsheet. Please let me know if you need it as I can send it to you in fifteen minutes."
Thomas was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Eric. He decided not to resign but to learn from Eric.
As we begin this fresh year, let this story help us keep in mind the importance of going an extra mile in all our endeavors.
You won't be rewarded for doing what you're meant to do, you only get a salary for that! You're only rewarded for going an extra mile; performing beyond expectations.
To be successful in life you must be observant, proactive and willing to do more, think more, have a more holistic perspective and go beyond the call of duty.
May you be blessed with a better perspective to your work and/or ministry in 2018.
Again may this New Year be fruitful and prosperous in order to make a lasting impact in your life and ministry.
Psalm 128:1-6
