In the course of the conversation he shared a quote that he attributed to Benjamin Franklin. I had my doubts, and further research has it as an unknown source, but it was a good quote anyway.
“The best fertilizer for your garden is the gardener’s shadow.”I like it. It says a lot to all of us. In case you miss the point it is reminding us that the best path to success is hard work and effort. We can’t sit around and wait to hit the lottery. We at least need to buy a ticket, although I hear lightening insurance pays off better.
I remember when I was working my way through seminary. At the time I was mowing lawns in a condo development. One day a couple of my co-workers talked me into joining them on one of their frequent breaks and we went to the local convenience store to get a snack. Inside a guy was furiously stocking a shelf. He was moving like his job depended on it. One of my co-workers said, “I don’t see why he is working so hard. He is the manager.” I didn’t share with him that the reason he was working so hard was because he was the manager. Or you might say he was the manager because he worked so hard. My break taking co-worker would never understand. That lack of understanding means he will never be a manager. The only exception I know to that is if you work for the government.
It reminds me of something I believe Thomas Edison said about success being one part inspiration and ninety-nine parts perspiration. Effort is the key to success in life. It is nice to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth but we can’t all be George Bush or Barak Obama. Consider where Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan came from. One of them you don’t like but they both started low on the spectrum and made it to the top. Both will be remembered.
What will you be remembered for?
homo unius libri
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