09/08/2017
Chijioke and Benjamin joined a company together a few months after their graduation from the University.
After a few years of work, their Branch Manager promoted Benjamin to a position of Senior Sales Manager, but Chijioke remained at the Entry Level Position (Junior Sales Officer).
Chijioke developed a sense of jealousy and disgruntlement, but still continued working with the company anyway.
One day Chijioke felt that he could not work with Benjamin anymore. So he wrote his resignation letter, but before submitting it to the Branch Manager, he complained that the company's management is not placing priority on hard work but only promoted those that are well connected or highly favoured.
The Branch Manager knew that Benjamin worked very hard for the years he had spent at the company; even harder than Chijioke, and therefore he deserved the promotion he got. But in order to let Chijioke realize this, the Branch Manager gave them a rather simple task.
Chijioke, “go and find out if anyone is selling water melons in town” Chijioke left and returned after a few hours, and said, "yes there is someone"
The Branch Manager asked, "how much per kg?" Chijioke drove back to town to ask and then returned to inform his boss; "they cost N100.00 per kg." The Branch Manager told Chijioke, "I will give Benjamin the same task that I gave to you. Please pay close attention to his response(s)."
So the Branch Manager said to Benjamin, right in the presence of Chijioke; “go and find out if anyone is selling water melons in town” Benjamin went to find out and when he returned he said: "Sir, there is only one person selling water melons in town.
The cost is N500.00 for each water melon and N300.00 for a half melon. He sells them at N100.00 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 the rate of 102 melons per day at N350.00 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 he is willing to slice for us at no extra cost.
We need to strike a deal with him before 10.00am tomorrow, and we will be sure of beating last year's profits in melons by over N2,300,000.00. This will contribute positively to our overall performance as it will add a minimum of 8.78% to our current overall sales target.
I have put this information down in writing, and it's available on spreadsheet. Please let me know if you need it as I can send it to you in less than fifteen minutes."
Chijioke was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Benjamin. From that point, he decided he was not going to resign from his position but to humble himself and learn from Benjamin.
To be successful in life, you must be observant, proactive and willing to do more, think more, have a more holistic perspective and be ready to go beyond the call of duty.
The life ahead of you needs this mentality of going an extra mile. Let's learn to carry extra oil like the five wise virgins, So that even in sudden situations and circumstances, we won't be disappointed. Don't be like the five foolish virgins who thought life is only about normal situations and circumstances.
Life is more than normalities. You must be prepared to take the bull by the horns in order for you to live a footprint on the sand of time.
