How One CEO Taught His Employees A Lesson In Integrity

A successful business man 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. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, “It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you..”

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. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.”

One man, named Jim, 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. Everyday, 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.

Jim 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 Jim didn’t have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by — still nothing in Jim’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn’t say anything to his colleagues, 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.

Jim told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, 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. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful — in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.

Jim just tried to hide in the back. “My, 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 Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, “The CEO knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!”

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed – Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, “Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!

His name is Jim!” Jim couldn’t believe it. Jim 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.

Ever Wondered Why Some Roads Have White Markings While Others Have Yellow Ones?

Road markings and lines are often confusing not only to new drivers, but also many experienced drivers as well. Here’s a quick look at what some of the markings and lines on the road mean.

1. BROKEN WHITE CENTER LINE OR LANE DIVIDER

This line indicate the center of a two-lane road, or marks the division between lanes on multi-lane roads. As the line is “broken,” however, this means you are allowed to cross it when overtaking or changing lanes, but you must only do so if it is safe.

2. BROKEN YELLOW LINE

A broken yellow line (small yellow lines appearing every few feet) indicates that you may pass another vehicle using the other lane only when it is clear and safe to do so. These are also typically seen on two-lane roads.

There is a difference between yellow and white lines on the road. Yellow lines are used to mark the middle of a two-way road. Means yellow lines separate traffic moving in different directions. White lines marks the division between lanes on multi-lane roads with traffic traveling in one direction.

3. SOLID WHITE CENTER LINE

This means that lane changing is discouraged, but not illegal. You are discouraged from overtaking over it unless the way is absolutely clear. This is often used to divide traffic and is found mainly on parts of multi-lane highways where construction is occurring.

4. SOLID WHITE DOUBLE LINE

These lines mean that lane changing is illegal. Shown in the picture above, they can happen anywhere where traffic needs to be controlled, like in metropolitan areas where toll lanes exist.

5. SOLID YELLOW DOUBLE LINES

Most commonly found on 2 lane side-by-side rural highways, these lines indicate that no passing can happen. Found on parts of the highway where there are lots of blind spots, like curvy roads and roads going over hills. They also show up on city roads as well.

6. COMBINATION OF SOLID AND BROKEN LINES:

If the line on your side is broken, you may cross or straddle it. Overtake – but only if it is safe to do so. If the line on your side is continious you must not cross or straddle it. Do not Overtake.

7 Simple Ways To Get Rid of Belly Fat While Sitting On Chair At Office or Home.

Working 9 to 5 doesn’t have to mean sacrificing fitness. Here are some power-packed chair exercises for full body workouts that can help you control your weight without even going to gym.

1. CHAIR CRUNCHES

• Sit toward the edge of your chair. Your fingers should face the ground.
• Lean backward until you feel your core engaged (even if you don’t, just lean back a few inches).
• Extend both legs out slowly. Bend the knees, bringing them toward your chest.
• Repeat the movement for 15-20 reps.

2. CHAIR RUNNING

• Sit with legs extended, toes pointed, arms bent by sides. Brace abs in tight and hinge back until just shoulder blades are lightly touching the back of the chair, lifting legs low in front of you.
• Bend left knee into chest, turning right shoulder in towards knee, pulling left elbow slightly back, then quickly switch sides.
• Repeat as quickly as you can for 30 alternating reps.

3. CHAIR SQUATS

• This is a great place to start for chair exercises and segue into the world of squats! To do this, stand in front of the chair as if you were going to sit down.
• Point your arms straight out in front of you, parallel to the ground, with your palms facing down. Slowly push your hips back, bend at the knee, and sit down.
• Before you get too comfortable, stand back up and return to the starting position. Do 2 sets of 15 reps.

4. SEATED OBLIQUE TWIST

• Sitting in a chair, take your right elbow and twist your torso so that your elbow touches your left knee, while bending forward so you feel your abdominal muscles contract.
• Return to an upright position and then repeat, taking the left elbow and bringing it down to the right knee.
• Do up to 3 sets of 10 reps.

5. SKATER SWITCH

• From the edge of your chair, bend right knee out to the side, extending left leg out straight to the side, toes pointed.
• Extend arms straight and lean forward slightly, reaching left arm to inside of right foot, raising right arm up behind body, twisting through torso. Quickly switch sides.
• Repeat as quickly as you can for 30 alternating reps.

6. PLANK KNEE CROSS

• Start by placing both forearms on the seat of a chair and stepping back into a plank position.
• Now, raise your right knee up to the inside of your left arm, pause for a couple of moments and repeat on the opposite leg, this time touching your left knee to the inside of your right arm.
• This alternate movement makes 1 repetition. Do 15 to 20 repetitions without any gap. Keep your hips low and core engaged throughout the workout.

7. STANDING KICKBACK WITH CHAIR

• Stand a few feet behind a chair, hold the back of the chair with both hands and bend forward from the waist.
• Transfer your entire body weight to your left heel and lift your right leg up and stretch it out behind you.
• Now, bring your right knee up close to your right shoulder, pause for a moment and then swing the leg out again behind you. This makes 1 repetition.
• Complete 20 repetitions on one side and then switch sides.