What good is one apple?

Do you think the apple or apple seed is worth more?

Rodney and Gregory were sitting in the break room talking about business strategies for their small training company. Rodney, ever the worrier, was expressing his frustrations over how "quick success" seemed to be eluding them. Rodney said to Gregory, "I can't see any evidence of this hard work. It seems like every thing that we have done has been to no avail."

Gregory, a much more seasoned businessperson, sat listening while peeling a big shinny red apple. Gregory understood Rodney's frustration. Early in his business career, Gregory had similar feelings and often gave up on his goals prematurely because he did not believe in himself. Fortunately, Gregory gained understanding of the need for belief and patience.

Holding up the apple he was peeling, Gregory said to Rodney, "See this apple, Rodney. When I cut it in half, we can count the number of seeds in it." Gregory cut the apple in half and noted the number of seeds in the core of the apple. He held up one seed for Rodney to see. "However," Gregory continued, "we cannot count the number of apples in one seed." Rodney looked at Gregory with confusion as he struggled to understand how Gregory's example related to his concerns.

Gregory continued, "We cannot know how many “trees” will grow and bear fruit from our efforts thus far. Now is the time to assume that our seed will bear fruit, to see the orchard filled with trees loaded with apples, which have been fertilized with belief and confidence, and watered with enthusiasm. We must be careful not to allow the weeds of negativity and doubt strangle the new plants as they struggle to grow into fruit-bearing trees."

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Don't be stuck looking at things like Rodney, just fire him now and look at the seeds!!!

Often, it is very difficult for us to see beyond what is present, or absent, for a period of time after we have made a decision and taken action. The silence between the time that we launch our goal and when we begin to see the results of our efforts can be deafening. It is during this time that we may lose momentum and enthusiasm for our goals.

Our ability to see thousands of apples in one apple seed may separate the truly successful people from those who experience only a minimal amount of success.

You must maintain a vision of what you want, need or desire, and be confident in your abilities to achieve success even when you cannot yet see the results of your efforts.