Here is the story of an elementary schoolteacher:
Her name was Mrs. Nori. As she stood in front of her primary five class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Ali.
Mrs. Nori had watched Ali the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Ali could be unpleasant. It got the point where Mrs. Nori would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Nori taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Ali's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Ali's primary one teacher wrote, "Ali is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners .... he is a joy to be around."
His primary two teacher wrote, "Ali is an excellent student, well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His primary three teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Ali's primary four teacher wrote, "Ali is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Nori realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Teachers' Day presents wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Ali's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.
Mrs. Nori took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stone missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.
Ali stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Nori, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left she cried for at least an hour.
On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Nori paid particular attention to Ali. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Ali had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Ali became one of her "Teacher's Pets."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Ali, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Ali. He then wrote that he had finished sixth form third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been rough at times, he'd stayed in school, stuck with it, and would soon graduate from university with highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Nori that she was still the best and favorite teacher he'd ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he'd ever had. But now his name was a little longer - the letter was signed, Ali S, MD.
The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that year. Ali said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years earlier and he was wondering if Mrs. Nori might agree to sit in the place at the wedding which was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.
Of course, Mrs. Nori did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Ali remembered his mother wearing on their last moments together.
They hugged each other, and Dr. Ali whispered in Mrs. Nori's ear. Thank you, Mrs. Nori for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference. Mrs. Nori, with tears in her eyes, whispered back, "Ali, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
Please remember that wherever you go, and whatever you do, you will have the opportunity to touch and/or change a person's outlook. Please try to do it in a positive way.
Showing posts with label story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label story. Show all posts
Friday, November 21, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Spoon
A timeless lesson on how Consultants can make a difference for an organization:
Last week, we took some friends out to a new restaurant, and noticed that the waiter who took our order carried a spoon in his shirt pocket. It seemed a little strange. When the busboy brought our water and utensils, I noticed he also had a spoon in his shirt pocket. Then I looked around and saw that all the staff had spoons in their pockets.
When the waiter came back to serve our soup I asked, "Why the spoon?"
"Well," he explained, "the restaurant's owners hired Andersen Consulting to revamp all our processes. After several months of analysis, they concluded that the spoon was the most frequently dropped utensil. It represents a drop frequency of approximately 3 spoons per table per hour. If our personnel are better prepared, we can reduce the number of trips back to the kitchen and save 15 man-hours per shift."
As luck would have it, I dropped my spoon and he was able to replace it with his spare.
"I'll get another spoon next time I go to the kitchen instead of making an extra trip to get it right now."
I was impressed.
I also noticed that there was a string hanging out of the waiter's fly. Looking around, I noticed that all the waiters had the same string hanging from their flies.
So before he walked off, I asked the waiter, "Excuse me, but can you tell me why you have that string right there?" "Oh, certainly!" Then he lowered his voice. "Not everyone is so observant. That consulting firm I mentioned also found out that we could save time in the restroom. By tying this string to the tip of our "you know what", we can pull it out without touching it and eliminate the need to wash our hands, shortening the time spent in the restroom by 76.39 percent."
"After you get it out, how do you put it back?"
"Well," he whispered, "I don't know about the others, but I use the spoon."
Last week, we took some friends out to a new restaurant, and noticed that the waiter who took our order carried a spoon in his shirt pocket. It seemed a little strange. When the busboy brought our water and utensils, I noticed he also had a spoon in his shirt pocket. Then I looked around and saw that all the staff had spoons in their pockets.
When the waiter came back to serve our soup I asked, "Why the spoon?"
"Well," he explained, "the restaurant's owners hired Andersen Consulting to revamp all our processes. After several months of analysis, they concluded that the spoon was the most frequently dropped utensil. It represents a drop frequency of approximately 3 spoons per table per hour. If our personnel are better prepared, we can reduce the number of trips back to the kitchen and save 15 man-hours per shift."
As luck would have it, I dropped my spoon and he was able to replace it with his spare.
"I'll get another spoon next time I go to the kitchen instead of making an extra trip to get it right now."
I was impressed.
I also noticed that there was a string hanging out of the waiter's fly. Looking around, I noticed that all the waiters had the same string hanging from their flies.
So before he walked off, I asked the waiter, "Excuse me, but can you tell me why you have that string right there?" "Oh, certainly!" Then he lowered his voice. "Not everyone is so observant. That consulting firm I mentioned also found out that we could save time in the restroom. By tying this string to the tip of our "you know what", we can pull it out without touching it and eliminate the need to wash our hands, shortening the time spent in the restroom by 76.39 percent."
"After you get it out, how do you put it back?"
"Well," he whispered, "I don't know about the others, but I use the spoon."
Lateral thinking vs logical thinking
Many years ago in a small Indian village:
A farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender.
The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful Daughter.
So he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his Daughter.
Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the Proposal.
So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let Providence decide the matter.
He told them that he would put a black Pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag.
Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.
1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.
3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into Jail.
They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field.
As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles.
As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.
Now, imagine that you were standing in the field.
What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money - lender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.
Take a moment to ponder over the story.
The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking.
Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.
What would you recommend to the girl to do?
Well, here is what she did ....
The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble.
Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path, where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles. "Oh, how clumsy of me," she said.
"But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one.
And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.
MORAL OF THE STORY:
Most complex problems do have a solution.
It is only that we don't attempt to think.
A farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender.
The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful Daughter.
So he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his Daughter.
Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the Proposal.
So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let Providence decide the matter.
He told them that he would put a black Pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag.
Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.
1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.
3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into Jail.
They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field.
As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles.
As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.
Now, imagine that you were standing in the field.
What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money - lender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.
Take a moment to ponder over the story.
The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking.
Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.
What would you recommend to the girl to do?
Well, here is what she did ....
The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble.
Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path, where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles. "Oh, how clumsy of me," she said.
"But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one.
And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.
MORAL OF THE STORY:
Most complex problems do have a solution.
It is only that we don't attempt to think.
3 Minute Management Lesson
Lesson One:
An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing .
A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing?"
The eagle answered: "Sure, why not . "
So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested .
All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it .
Management Lesson One:
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.
Lesson Two:
A turkey was chatting with a bull .
"I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree," sighed the turkey, "but I haven't got the energy. "
" Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull .
" They're packed with nutrients . "
The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree .
The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch.
Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree .
He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree .
Management Lesson Two:
Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there .
Lesson Three:
A little bird was flying south for the winter.
It was so cold, the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field.
While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him.
As the frozen bird lay there in the pil e of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was.
The dung was actually thawing him out !
He laid there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.
A passing cat heard the bird Singing and came to investigate .
Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung.
He promptly dug him out and ate him.
Management Lesson Three:
(a) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
(b) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
(c) And when you're in deep shit, it's best to keep your mouth shut!
This ends the Three Minute Management Course
An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing .
A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing?"
The eagle answered: "Sure, why not . "
So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested .
All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it .
Management Lesson One:
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.
Lesson Two:
A turkey was chatting with a bull .
"I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree," sighed the turkey, "but I haven't got the energy. "
" Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull .
" They're packed with nutrients . "
The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree .
The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch.
Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree .
He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree .
Management Lesson Two:
Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there .
Lesson Three:
A little bird was flying south for the winter.
It was so cold, the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field.
While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him.
As the frozen bird lay there in the pil e of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was.
The dung was actually thawing him out !
He laid there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.
A passing cat heard the bird Singing and came to investigate .
Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung.
He promptly dug him out and ate him.
Management Lesson Three:
(a) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
(b) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
(c) And when you're in deep shit, it's best to keep your mouth shut!
This ends the Three Minute Management Course
WHAT TEACHERS MAKE
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
One man, a Chairman of a large company, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, 'What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?'
He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: 'Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.
'To stress his point he said to another guest; 'You're a teacher, Annie. Be honest. What do you make?'
Annie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, 'You want toknow what I make?
(She paused for a second, then began...)
'Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
You want to know what I make?' (She paused again and looked at each andevery person at the table.)
''I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write.
Keyboarding isn'teverything.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math.
They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.
I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God (and descendent of Adam and Eve), because we live inthe United States of America (and the World!).
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given,work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.'
(Annie paused one last time and then continued.)
' Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention becausethey are ignorant...
You want to know what I make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE .
What do you make Mr. Chairman?'
His jaw dropped, he went silent.
One man, a Chairman of a large company, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, 'What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?'
He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: 'Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.
'To stress his point he said to another guest; 'You're a teacher, Annie. Be honest. What do you make?'
Annie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, 'You want toknow what I make?
(She paused for a second, then began...)
'Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
You want to know what I make?' (She paused again and looked at each andevery person at the table.)
''I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write.
Keyboarding isn'teverything.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math.
They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.
I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God (and descendent of Adam and Eve), because we live inthe United States of America (and the World!).
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given,work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.'
(Annie paused one last time and then continued.)
' Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention becausethey are ignorant...
You want to know what I make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE .
What do you make Mr. Chairman?'
His jaw dropped, he went silent.
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