© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved. Once, during Napoleon’s rule, a successful field marshal asked for an audience with the leader and the leader agreed to the meeting.
When the field marshal arrived, he brought news of a great victory, and how he had been instrumental in achieving it. In fact, the field marshal went on and on about his accomplishments in great detail.
Napoleon listened carefully without once interrupting—but at the end of the man’s report, Napoleon said nothing.
The officer was disappointed, of course; he had hoped for some enthusiasm and praise.
And so the officer began to reiterate that which he had just said. While he rambled, Napoleon again listened intently. And the field marshal was sure that this time he would get the praise he was due.
But when he officer had finally finished, Napoleon had for him just one question: “What did you do the next day?”
. . . .
Ask Larry Coker, coach of the Miami Hurricanes, if he is secure in what he has accomplished. His team has been ranked in the top twenty-five teams in the country every week since 1999. Suddenly, with a loss to the Louisville Cardinals, his ability and probably even his character are in question. (Notice I did not use another well-known coach as an example today. I do not know many Hurricane fans.)
We must find our security in something other than what we’ve done lately. Who we are is far more important that what we’ve done.
© 2007, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 5 (2007).
When the field marshal arrived, he brought news of a great victory, and how he had been instrumental in achieving it. In fact, the field marshal went on and on about his accomplishments in great detail.
Napoleon listened carefully without once interrupting—but at the end of the man’s report, Napoleon said nothing.
The officer was disappointed, of course; he had hoped for some enthusiasm and praise.
And so the officer began to reiterate that which he had just said. While he rambled, Napoleon again listened intently. And the field marshal was sure that this time he would get the praise he was due.
But when he officer had finally finished, Napoleon had for him just one question: “What did you do the next day?”
. . . .
Ask Larry Coker, coach of the Miami Hurricanes, if he is secure in what he has accomplished. His team has been ranked in the top twenty-five teams in the country every week since 1999. Suddenly, with a loss to the Louisville Cardinals, his ability and probably even his character are in question. (Notice I did not use another well-known coach as an example today. I do not know many Hurricane fans.)
We must find our security in something other than what we’ve done lately. Who we are is far more important that what we’ve done.
© 2007, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 5 (2007).
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