Ike and John joined an organization together a few months after their graduation from university.
After a few years of work, their Manager promoted Ike to a position of Senior Sales Manager, but John remained in his entry level Junior Sales Officer position. John developed a sense of jealousy and disgruntlement, but continued working anyway.
One day John felt that he could not work with Ike anymore. He wrote his resignation letter, but before he submitted it to the Manager, he complained that Management did not value hard working staff, but only promoted only the favoured!
The Manager knew that Ike worked very hard for the years he had spent at the company; even harder than John and therefore he deserved the promotion. So in order to help John to realize this, the Manager gave John a task.
“Go and find out if anyone is selling water melons in town?”
John returned and said, "yes there is someone!"
The Manager asked, "how much per kg?" John drove back to town to ask and then returned to inform the Manager; "they are GH.¢ 8.00 per kg!"
The Manager told John , "I will give Ike the same task that I gave you. Please pay close attention to his response!"
So the Manager said to Ike , in the presence of John ; “Go and find out if anyone is selling water melons in town?”
Ike went to find out and on his return he said:
"Manager, there is only one person selling water melons in the whole town. The cost is GH¢ 20.00 each water melon and GH¢ 12,00 for a half melon. He sells them at GH¢ 8.00 per kg when sliced. He has in his stock 93 melons, each one weighing about 2.5kg. He has a farm and can supply us with melons for the next 4 months at a rate of 100 melons per day at GH¢ 15.00 per melon; this includes delivery.
The melons appear fresh and red with good quality, and they taste better than the ones we sold last year.
He has his own slicing machine and is willing to slice for us free of charge.
We need to strike a deal with him before 10am tomorrow and we will be sure of beating last year's profits in melons by GH.¢ 250 000.00. This will contribute positively to our overall performance as it will add a minimum of 10.50% to our current overall sales target.
I have put this information down in writing and is available on spreadsheet. Please let me know if you need it as I can send it to you in fifteen minutes."
John was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Ike. He decided not to resign but to learn from Ike .
As we all aspire to excel in our various businesses and professions , let this story help us keep in mind the importance of going an extra mile in all our endeavors.
You won't be rewarded for doing what you're meant to do, you only get a salary for that! You're only rewarded for going an extra mile; performing beyond expectations.
To be successful in life you must be observant, proactive and willing to do more, think more, a more holistic perspective and go beyond the call of duty.