WORTH TO THE TEAM

A father had three sons, and they all worked for the same man, a dealer in furs.  One day the father went down to talk to the president of the company, an old boyhood friend.  He went into the office and said, "Jim, my three boys all work for you and I appreciate your giving them positions.  I have a question that's bothering me.  You pay one of them $200 a month, one of them $300 a month, and one of them $500.  Why?"

The president leaned back in his chair and was silent for a few moments. Then his face brightened as he answered, "Well, maybe I can show you why right this minute.  Have you got a while that you can stay here?"  "I can stay all day:' the father said. "Well, you might have to stay all day. Make yourself at home."

He picked up the telephone and called one of the boys, the $200 boy.  He said, "I understand the Ontario has just docked at the wharf, loaded with furs.  Please go down there and see what cargo she's carrying and let me know." About three minutes later the president's telephone rang and the young fellow said, "I didn't even have to go down there to get the information.  I telephoned down.  They have fifteen hundred seals." The president said, "Thank you."

He buzzed the next boy, the $300 boy and said, "The Ontario has just docked.  Will you please go down and see what she has on board and let me know at your earliest convenience?" About an hour later the telephone rang and he said, "I just went down and checked the Ontario.  She's got fifteen hundred seals on board."

He rang the third boy, the $500 boy.  He said, "The Ontario has docked,” and he told him the same story and made the same request.  The boy came back four hours later and came right on into the president's office.  He said, "Well, she had fifteen hundred seals on board and all are in good shape.  I bought them for five dollars apiece, and filled that order we had from one of our customers.  He bought all of them from us at seven dollars apiece.  The Ontario also had five hundred red fox pelts.  Of course, we don't handle red fox, but I knew who wanted them, so I called him long distance and made a sale.  The deal will net us about $4000.  There were also thirty-nine minks on board.  I went in and examined them.  They are beautiful; they are the finest.  Since you always like to handle the mink trade yourself, I took an option on them for an hour so I could report to you."

The president said, "Thank you,' and the young man left.  Jim asked the father, "Is your question answered?" "Yes,' replied the father, "One of the boys didn't even obey you, the other went only halfway, but one of them gave you everything he had."

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