There’s a story told in the ancient writings from the Bible of a landowner who hired people first thing in the morning to work in his fields.  They agreed upon their pay for the day.

He then hired some others at noon and some later in the afternoon.  He agreed to pay these latter hires the same day rate as the people he hired first thing in the morning.

At the end of the day when it came time to settle up, the people who were hired first thing in the morning became irate when they heard that the others were being paid exactly the same as they were.

The landowner was puzzled.  “Didn’t we agree upon your day rate?” asked the landowner.  “Weren’t you happy with what we agreed upon?  Then why are you unhappy now?”

The mature leader knows not to lose his/her joy and vitality by comparing their lot in life to someone else’s.  Rather the wise leader seeks to find a spirit of gratefulness within their own lot in life.

Categories: Competitive Style, Ego, Vitality