Can you increase your value?
Michael Jordan was born in 1963 in the slums of Brooklyn, New York.
He had four siblings, and his father's earnings were insufficient to provide for the whole family.
He grew up in a poor neighbourhood. Exposed to mindless violence and heavy discrimination in the slums, he saw for himself only a hopeless future.
His father saw in Michael a lost soul and decided to do something.
He gave Michael, who was 13 years old, a piece of used clothing and asked: "What do you think the value of this outfit would be?"
Jordan replied, "Maybe one dollar."
His father asked, "Can you sell it for two dollars? If you can sell it, it would mean that you are a big help to your family."
Jordan nodded, "I'll try, but there's no guarantee that I'll be successful.”
Jordan carefully washed the cloth clean. Because they didn't have an iron, he levelled it with a clothes brush on a flat board to smoothen it, then kept it in the sun to dry. The next day, he brought the clothes to a crowded underground station. After offering them for more than six hours, Jordan finally managed to sell them for $2. He took the two-dollar bill and ran home.
After that, he looked for used clothing every day, washed and ironed it, and sold it in the crowd.
More than ten days later, his father again gave him a piece of used clothing, "Can you think of a way you can sell this for 20 bucks?"
Aghast, Jordan said, "How is it possible? This outfit can only fetch two dollars at the most."
His father replied, "Why don't you try it first? There might be a way."
After breaking his head for a few hours, finally, Jordan got an idea.
He asked for cousin's help to paint a picture of Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse on the garment. Then he tried to sell it in the school where the children of the rich study.
Soon a housekeeper, who was there to pick his master, bought that outfit for his master. The master was a little boy of only 10 years. He loved it so much and he gave a five dollar tip. 25 dollars was a huge amount for Jordan, the equivalent of a month's salary of his father.
When he got home, his father gave him yet another piece of used clothing, "Are you able to resell it at a price of 200 dollars?" Jordan's eyes lit up.
This time, Jordan accepted the clothes without the slightest doubt. Two months later, a popular actress from the movie Charlie's Angels, Farah Fawcett, came to New York for her Movie promos. After the press conference, Jordan made his way through the security forces to reach the side of Farah Fawcett and requested her autograph on the piece of clothing. When Fawcett saw this innocent child asking for her autograph, she gladly signed it.
Jordan shouted very excitedly, "This is a jersey signed by Miss Farah Fawcett. The selling price is 200 dollars!" He auctioned off the clothes to a businessman for 1,200 dollars!
Upon returning home, his father broke into tears and said, "I am amazed that you did it, my child! You're great! "
That night, Jordan slept alongside his father. His father said, "Son, what did you learn about success in your experience selling these three pieces of clothing?"
Jordan replied, "Where there's a will, there's a way.”
His father nodded, then said, "What you say is not entirely wrong! But that was not my intention. I just wanted to show you that a piece of used clothing that is worth only a dollar can also increase in value. Then how about us—living and thinking humans? We may be darker and poorer, but what if we CAN increase our value?"
This thought enlightened young Jordan. Even a piece of used clothing could be dignified, so why not me? There is no reason to underestimate myself.
From then on, Michael Jordan felt that his future would be beautiful and full of hope.
He went on to become the greatest basketball player of all times.
Reflection
How can I increase my value? An exciting thought indeed. Ponder on it.
Some of you may have encountered this story widely circulating on social media.
What is in it for us?
What have you done to increase your value? Gone are the days of resting on past laurels. We need to reinvent and present ourselves to the world in better ways.
What have you added on after quitting your last job?
Certifications, skills, diplomas, degrees, communities, a broader reach?
Do you have new perspectives on parenting, feminism, business, household management or any other subject?
Keep writing, keep sharing ….
Comments