A gentleman, full of talent, youth, and perhaps some privilege sat contemplating on his front porch— when a young lady from down the way passed by. He was hungry, and his appetite had spurred an idea.
Her early crops were hard fought but adequate, and it was just enough to encourage her. Cultivating a field required long hours, patience, and at times exhausting labor. More than anything else, it required persistence. She had that rare ability to throw off the fear that a crop might never materialize and she kept at it—no matter what.
Quite naturally her skills evolved. She developed the ability to quickly survey a field, consider the climate and act decisively. It was a phenomenon to most people. She had the ability to take a plot of dirt, and transform it into a lush garden, capable of feeding many people for extended periods of time.
After a few minutes, she had an idea of her own, and she went back to negotiate a better deal.
She begins to calculate the time, the energy, the resources, the hardships, and the patience which will be required to see this thing through to success, and she wonders about his own role in all of it.
What he has unwittingly revealed by his unequal proposition, is the very thing which will prove to be his folly— he has no personal commitment —which consequently will lead to a lack of persistence, and a lack of persistence (otherwise known as work) will always result in failure. Always.
Listen, she can surely hope that it will all work out, and many times we agree- there's hope. But hope, paired with no work leads to nothing— and 15% of nothing is nothing.
It's just as the Bible states it..."Faith without works is dead". (Hey, I didn't make the rules. I am just telling you what they are.)
The young lady was relatively well known in these parts, for being quite a gardener. She had a knack it seemed, for making things grow— even in hard times. Many years earlier, she had started out with nothing more than simple ambition. She owned no plot of land, no tools, and had little know how.
Quite naturally her skills evolved. She developed the ability to quickly survey a field, consider the climate and act decisively. It was a phenomenon to most people. She had the ability to take a plot of dirt, and transform it into a lush garden, capable of feeding many people for extended periods of time.
By now, she had come to understand a great multitude of things—in a way that only failure and loss can teach—things like soil quality, seed health, the insidiousness of pests, and how to handle the onslaught of unpredictable things, like the weather. This acquired knowledge was her compass, navigating her through all manner of obstacles.
Regardless of her years, cultivating a good crop was never easy. Nonetheless, she loved it, and would endure all manner of hardship to see that garden flourish at the end of the season.
Regardless of her years, cultivating a good crop was never easy. Nonetheless, she loved it, and would endure all manner of hardship to see that garden flourish at the end of the season.
As she passed by, the gentleman called out with a proposition. It went something like this…
"I’m hungry”.
He said, "I was thinking, since you are so good at gardening and all… you might like to go out and work that field there of mine.” He captured her attention, and she asked him to continue.
"It's simple really", he said. "Plant a garden— there in my field." He directed his hand toward a large expanse of dirt.
"In the fall, when harvest comes, bring me the crop. I'll will give you 15% of what you produce".
There was a long, awkward pause.
She rolled her eyes so far back into her head, that she fell over right there. Cold. Hard. Dead. (Not really, but the thought had crossed her mind)
She rolled her eyes so far back into her head, that she fell over right there. Cold. Hard. Dead. (Not really, but the thought had crossed her mind)
That was already the fifth time this morning someone had yelled out “I’m hungry” from the porch. She looked at him like he was crazy. Then smiled and waved—and she kept moving.
After a few minutes, she had an idea of her own, and she went back to negotiate a better deal.
This metaphor is an all too real situation— and a serious hurdle for many people in the sponsorship business. Whether you relate to the gentlemen or the young lady, there is much to be learned in this story—which when heeded can radically improve your own business.
You might think this guy is arrogant, you might think he's brilliant, but I can tell you one thing to be sure— he's inexperienced. He has no earthly idea what he has just requested of her, nor that his suggestion will lead to certain failure.
He thinks," why not?". "It's worth a shot." She, on the other hand, knows from hard experience, that this gentleman is in real trouble— right out of the gate.
Let's face it, he's not vested in the outcome. He offers no time, no labor and no money— only a field. The burden, and the risk, is all on her.
You might think this guy is arrogant, you might think he's brilliant, but I can tell you one thing to be sure— he's inexperienced. He has no earthly idea what he has just requested of her, nor that his suggestion will lead to certain failure.
He thinks," why not?". "It's worth a shot." She, on the other hand, knows from hard experience, that this gentleman is in real trouble— right out of the gate.
Let's face it, he's not vested in the outcome. He offers no time, no labor and no money— only a field. The burden, and the risk, is all on her.
She begins to calculate the time, the energy, the resources, the hardships, and the patience which will be required to see this thing through to success, and she wonders about his own role in all of it.
What he has unwittingly revealed by his unequal proposition, is the very thing which will prove to be his folly— he has no personal commitment —which consequently will lead to a lack of persistence, and a lack of persistence (otherwise known as work) will always result in failure. Always.
Listen, she can surely hope that it will all work out, and many times we agree- there's hope. But hope, paired with no work leads to nothing— and 15% of nothing is nothing.
It's just as the Bible states it..."Faith without works is dead". (Hey, I didn't make the rules. I am just telling you what they are.)
When you are faced with a similar proposition- don't get frustrated. Recognize it for what it really is—it's an opportunity to teach- and in the long run, save that guy from a lot of misery.
Let's put this guy's lack of personal commitment aside for a minute. We know this particular young lady will not accept this deal. But, this gentleman is still looking to be fed. He will keep asking— and in time, another girl might just say, "Yes, I'll do it".
This is a recipe for disaster, and here's why….
This girl is going to eagerly get to work. She will begin to till the soil, plant the seeds, weed the garden. A few weeks into it, she is going to tire. She is going ask herself, whether or not the garden will ever really grow. She will begin to doubt that it is possible, and when the first storm hits, or her new crop has been ravaged by pests—she is going to quit. Done. Finished. Over.
She knows that 15% of nothing is nothing- and it's now, much too big of a risk. She no longer has any personal commitment- she just changed her mind. Because she can. There is no reason to keep working. He is not paying her.
Remember, that no personal commitment will lead to a lack of persistence, and a lack of persistence (otherwise known as work) will always result in failure. Always.
The gentleman on the porch will still be hungry- and this time, he will be halfway through a growing season, with no hope of cultivating a crop before winter hits.
The better solution, is to teach this guy how and why he should be vested in his own project. Teach him that when he enthusiastically agrees to come out into the field himself- bringing his personal resources, his tools, his friends, his energy and his money- then this girl will keep working.
And work (persistence) is the single biggest indicator of successful outcomes.
Let's put this guy's lack of personal commitment aside for a minute. We know this particular young lady will not accept this deal. But, this gentleman is still looking to be fed. He will keep asking— and in time, another girl might just say, "Yes, I'll do it".
This is a recipe for disaster, and here's why….
This girl is going to eagerly get to work. She will begin to till the soil, plant the seeds, weed the garden. A few weeks into it, she is going to tire. She is going ask herself, whether or not the garden will ever really grow. She will begin to doubt that it is possible, and when the first storm hits, or her new crop has been ravaged by pests—she is going to quit. Done. Finished. Over.
She knows that 15% of nothing is nothing- and it's now, much too big of a risk. She no longer has any personal commitment- she just changed her mind. Because she can. There is no reason to keep working. He is not paying her.
Remember, that no personal commitment will lead to a lack of persistence, and a lack of persistence (otherwise known as work) will always result in failure. Always.
The gentleman on the porch will still be hungry- and this time, he will be halfway through a growing season, with no hope of cultivating a crop before winter hits.
The better solution, is to teach this guy how and why he should be vested in his own project. Teach him that when he enthusiastically agrees to come out into the field himself- bringing his personal resources, his tools, his friends, his energy and his money- then this girl will keep working.
And work (persistence) is the single biggest indicator of successful outcomes.
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