Three beggars have been chosen to represent their communities in pleading with the king to grant them some charity money so they can survive. The three beggars discussed their way of arrival. There were quite a few options. They could drive in, using cars manufactured by their senders. That option was put off. Gasoline is too expensive. They could take the train, but there is no direct route between Detroit to Washington DC. This option was not selected either. They even considered a commercial flight, but that turned out to be too crowded. First class was too expensive. Almost a thousand dollars. So they chose to use three private jets. Each of the beggars came with one private jet.
When they arrived, they were placed in a large room, with many cabinet members, members of the media, photographers and others. Everyone wanted to see how the king will help the beggars in their mission to feed their respective communities. There was silence in the large room. You could hear a pin drop. The king raised his hand, everyone stopped breathing. The king started asking questions.
“I’m going to ask the three beggars here to raise their hand if they flew here commercial,” he said. The beggars sat still. “Let the record show no hands went up”, the king exclaimed. The audience went even more silent than before. “Second,” he kept on, “I’m going ask you to raise your hand if you’re planning to sell your jet . . . and fly back commercial.” Still no movement on the beggars’ part. “Let the record show no hands went up” the king said.
The beggars left empty-handed. Upon arrival, there was no welcoming party at the airport. Instead, when the three beggars arrived at their exquisite offices, each one of them had a wrapped gift on his desk. Each one of them opened it up to discover a set of filthy clothes, torn shoes, a crummy hat and a leftover sandwich. Next time, the attached note said, when you go begging for us, look more like us.
The lesson is simple: beggars cannot look better, feel better, own more than the begged. A beggar should be a beggar.
So far, the three executives have shown the sin of avarice (greed), the sin of arrogance. But most of all, the ultimate sin of commonsenselessness…
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