The Leaders of Tomorrow
I heard this story a few years ago and it had an impact on me because I probably would have been one of the almost 10,000 people that just sat there and missed out on this man's instruction. I decided then that I wanted to become a leader of tomorrow and I am still working towards that goal.
Eric
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Several years ago, a prominent businessman in the United States was asked to give a speech at a major university. Now I didn't see the contract, but I understand that he was paid $20,000 for a one-hour lecture. They flew him to the city where the university was-on a first class ticket, put him up in a five-star hotel, gave him a tour of the campus, took him to nice restaurants, and met with donors. Then they took him to the big sports arena-something similar to the Marriott Center, in fact, it is a little bit bigger than the Marriott Center, and introduced him with a long résumé. They turned the time over to this gentleman, and he stood at the podium. He said, "Before I get started, I would like to see by a raise of hands how many of you in this room believe that you will be a leader and will change the world?" This basketball arena was almost full and there were tens of thousands of people there. He had been asked to speak on the subject of "The Leaders of Tomorrow." Out of those tens of thousands of people, six individuals raised their hand. Six people, out of tens of thousands, said "Yeah. I'm a leader. I can change the world." The man said, "Would those of you who raised your hands come down here please?" They came down to the podium. He went away from the podium and arranged some chairs in a circle around a little table there on the stage. He put seven chairs there and sat down with those six individuals and began to talk to them. Now people noticed there was a problem and they started talking. The noise got loud in the place, as you know they can during a basketball game or something. The man went back to the podium and said, "Would you please be quiet? We're trying to talk. And, by the way, why don't you leave? I have nothing for you. I am here to talk about the leaders of tomorrow." Then he went back to this small group of students until several people came up and tried to listen in, including the President of the University. The man who had just given him a check. When they came up, he said, "Did you raise your hand?" "Well, no." "Then go away. I am here to talk about the leaders of tomorrow."
Eric
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Several years ago, a prominent businessman in the United States was asked to give a speech at a major university. Now I didn't see the contract, but I understand that he was paid $20,000 for a one-hour lecture. They flew him to the city where the university was-on a first class ticket, put him up in a five-star hotel, gave him a tour of the campus, took him to nice restaurants, and met with donors. Then they took him to the big sports arena-something similar to the Marriott Center, in fact, it is a little bit bigger than the Marriott Center, and introduced him with a long résumé. They turned the time over to this gentleman, and he stood at the podium. He said, "Before I get started, I would like to see by a raise of hands how many of you in this room believe that you will be a leader and will change the world?" This basketball arena was almost full and there were tens of thousands of people there. He had been asked to speak on the subject of "The Leaders of Tomorrow." Out of those tens of thousands of people, six individuals raised their hand. Six people, out of tens of thousands, said "Yeah. I'm a leader. I can change the world." The man said, "Would those of you who raised your hands come down here please?" They came down to the podium. He went away from the podium and arranged some chairs in a circle around a little table there on the stage. He put seven chairs there and sat down with those six individuals and began to talk to them. Now people noticed there was a problem and they started talking. The noise got loud in the place, as you know they can during a basketball game or something. The man went back to the podium and said, "Would you please be quiet? We're trying to talk. And, by the way, why don't you leave? I have nothing for you. I am here to talk about the leaders of tomorrow." Then he went back to this small group of students until several people came up and tried to listen in, including the President of the University. The man who had just given him a check. When they came up, he said, "Did you raise your hand?" "Well, no." "Then go away. I am here to talk about the leaders of tomorrow."
<< Home