A farmer came into town and asked the owner of a restaurant if he could use a million frog legs. The restaurant owner was shocked and asked the man where he could get so many frog legs! The farmer replied, “There is a pond near my house that is full of frogs – millions of them. They croak all during the night and are about to drive me crazy!”
So the restaurant owner and the farmer made an agreement that the farmer would deliver frogs to the restaurant five hundred at a time for the next several weeks.
The first week, the farmer returned to the restaurant looking rather sheepish, with two scrawny little frogs. The restaurant owner said, “Well... where are all the frogs?” The farmer said, “I was mistaken. There were only these two frogs in the pond. But they sure were making a lot of noise!”
Next time you hear somebody criticizing or attacking you, remember it’s probably just a couple of noisy frogs. Also – remember that problems always seem bigger in the dark. Have you ever lain in your bed at night worrying about things which seem almost overwhelming – like a million frogs croaking? Chances are pretty good that when the morning comes, and you take a closer look, you’ll wonder what all the fuss was about.
Leaders face criticism all the time. Achievers are always on the receiving end of nasty insults and slander. I have yet to meet a successful CEO or leader who has not received nasty anonymous text, anonymous letters of insults or fabricated stories hurled against them. But winners are just too busy making themselves better. On the other hand… critical people have made a career looking for bad things to say. They’re always on the lookout for the negative things because they have made it their nature to be negative.
One day a supervisor at a plant had called one of the workers on the carpet for talking back to his foreman.
Supervisor says: “He says you called him a liar. Is that right?
Worker replied: “I suppose it is.”
Supervisor says: “And he says you called him stupid.”
Worker answered: “He is and I did.”
Supervisor says: “And a slave driver.”
Worker responded: “Yes.”
Supervisor: “And a genuine, gold-plated, 24-hour, open-all-night, neon-lighted revolving good-for-nothing slob.”
This time the worker said, “No-but let me write that one down so I can remember it.”
Get on with your life. Never mind the frogs. Those suckers will croak all the time. Do your job and give a great performance. The best argument is always a job well done. The best revenge is a life well lived.
This statement credited to Theodore Roosevelt is perhaps the most eloquent defense of the man or woman living where the rubber meets the road that has yet been offered:
“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
When it comes to critical people, always remember that they’re croaking frogs.
And when the criticisms begin to hurt you, simply remember the mango tree. Why? Because: Jealousy breeds criticism. Nobody throws stones at a fruitless tree. If what you do is right before men and God then do it with all of your might and don’t let the suckers get to you.
And to the frogs who continue to malign, slander, hurl verbal abuse and criticize people unfairly and unendingly; may I offer a simple advice? Be reminded of what the Bible has to say: That out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. So watch your mouth or better still, watch your heart.
(Attend “I’m Inspired” The Seminar – featuring James Lafferty, Butch Jimenez, Anthony Pangilinan and Francis Kong on April 2, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at the Rockwell Cinema. Call 6872614 or 09278511115 for further inquiries.)