A successful businessman was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different and called all the young executives in his company together.
He said "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you." The young executives were shocked as the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a seed today. This is one very SPECIAL seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from this seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."
Jim, one of the executives, went home and excitedly told his wife the story. Together they got the pot, compost and soil to plant the seed. Every day, he watered it and watched it closely to see the progress.