“The Dumbest Kid in the World”

A boy walks into a barber shop. “This is the dumbest kid in the world,” whispers the barber to the customer in his chair. “Watch. I’ll prove it to you.”

The barber holds a dollar bill in one hand and two quarters in the other. Then he calls the boy over and holds out his hands. “Which do you want, son? One dollar. Or two quarters.”

Without hesitation, the boy takes the quarters and leaves. “What did I tell you?”says the barber. “That kid never learns!”

Later, when the customer leaves the shop, he sees the same boy coming out of the ice cream store. “Hey, son!,” the man says. “May I ask you a question? Why did you take the quarters instead of the dollar bill?”

The boy licks  the cone thoughtfully and replies, “Because the day I take the dollar, the game is over.”

It’s a funny story, but it makes a serious point. In order to cooperate successfully, we have to practice deep discernment so we understand what really motivates our partners!

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