Don't we often downplay what can be accomplished by just one person? We lose sight of the fact that just one person, with unfailing enthusiasm and consistent industriousness, can achieve results that are truly staggering-a virtual miracle.
As a young man, Elzea Bufier owned a small farm in France where he lived with his wife and only son. He was very content living a simple, peaceful life. Unfortunately tragedy struck, and he lost both his wife and son to sudden illnesses.
Unable to live on his farm without them, he began searching for a new place of solitude. With only his dog and 20 sheep, he roamed the countryside for almost a month. Finally he came upon a spot as desolate as any in France. He found an ancient ruin and decided to make it his new home. The nearest village was over two days' walk, but he decided it was at that spot that he would do his shepherding, so he could live a very quiet, peaceful life.
Even though Elzea was very hurt by his loss, he was still a good man with a giving heart. He decided that somehow he wanted to make a difference in the world in his own quiet way. He had noticed that the land was very barren, without trees. He decided he would remedy that problem by planting a few trees.
As he shepherded by day, he collected acorns from the few sparse oaks that dotted the high country near his new home. Each night after eating his soup, he selected the very best 100 acorns and put them in a pail of water. The next day, when his sheep took their afternoon nap, he would plant the 100 acorns while his dog kept a watchful eye on the sheep.
Every day he planted 100 trees, and by 1913, after just three years of planting, he had planted 100,000 trees. From those 100,000 trees, only 20,000 sprouted. And, from the 20,000 trees that sprouted, only 10,000 survived and grew tall. Yet, even with only a small percentage of his efforts paying off, 10,000 new trees appeared where there had been none before.
Elzea Bufier continued his quiet planting until the day he passed on. For 37 years he had planted at least 100 trees each day. As all the trees grew, nature amplified his miracle. The wind lifted and deposited more seeds which, in turn, drew more moisture and nourished the soil. Where there had once been a desolate, barren countryside, now stood a magnificent forest with a flowing stream and teeming with new life. Eventually, the French Forestry Bureau set aside most of the land as a protected national forest shortly after Bufier peacefully died in 1947.
Elzea Bufier gave the world a great gift. His special service was quiet and unpretentious. He wanted no credit. But his unrelenting enthusiasm and tireless industriousness created a virtual miracle. His story demonstrates the immense impact a single individual can have in the world. He shows us that believing we won't make a difference on our own is just an excuse-one is still a powerful number!
One is Still a Powerful Number - To learn more about this author, visit George Ludwig's Website.
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George Ludwig
(Visit George's Website)
George Ludwig is a recognized authority on
sales strategy and peak performance
psychology. An international speaker,
trainer, and corporate consultant, he
helps clients like Johnson & Johnson,
Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual,
CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales
force effectiveness and performance.
Though it's George's strategies and
processes that help corporations increase
productivity and performance, it's his
tremendous energy and dynamism that spark
the transformation. Again and again,
clients remark on his amazing ability to
unleash human capacity and inspire men and
women to break out of their comfort zones.
The result is a whole new type of
salesperson.
His customized presentations teach
achievers to make stunning advances in
their lives. From helping salespeople
realize cherished dreams to helping
corporations exponentially accelerate
revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves
audiences and individuals empowered,
emboldened, and clamoring for more.
George is the best-selling author of Power
Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the
Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips
to Improve Your Position in Life &
Business.
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