Hi HR Professionals,

Here is a story of the three wise men below. (Even if you know the story...read it BEFORE reading my comments.) There is a lot of rich content in this account told by Matthew. I will say that this is not a religious story...but a motivational story.

If you will notice in this Christmas story the wise men followed a STAR but found a STABLE.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Wise Men
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage."

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage."

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. They saw that the star had stopped over a stable and they were overwhelmed with joy.
They entered the stable and saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, my first point is how many times have you chased a STAR only to find a STABLE? Were you disappointed? In my coaching/training business that own I always talk about vision (STAR) and I get all stary-eyed. The reality many times is that my day-to-day activity is just plain, hard, dirty, smelly, cow-dung-infested work (STABLE).

Many times there is a huge difference between my expectations (STAR) and my reality (STABLE). This gap can become disappointing if I allow it. I see the STAR but all I get is this STABLE...poor...poor...helpless me.

But the wise men were different! Read the history account below. They were seeking a king under the STAR, they rode camels across the desert for weeks, got chapped thighs only to find a dirty stinking STABLE! But, instead of disappointment they were overwhelmed with joy.

Now that is the attitude I want in my career in 2002! Gimmie' a STABLE and I will find the joy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is another point: Our clients may sometimes see us as a STAR and only get a STABLE. (I better shut up!)

I'm the coach/trainer guy (STAR)...I'm the guy always helping others (STAR)...I'm the guy with the prestige (STAR)...I'm the motivator, inspiration, change agent (STAR)...I am the Knight riding in on a white horse and I am sweeping in to fix all manner of evil and problems (STAR). But, clients and others around me do not see the fear, balance sheet, problems, impossible payroll (STABLE). I wonder what would happen if they
saw my dreaded STABLE? would they laugh? Leave? Run?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is another cool point: Some of the coolest stuff is found in the STABLE!

The wise men found their King. What will you find in your STABLE? Will you even look? Will you look at the STAR that shines brightly above your STABLE and think you took a wrong turn?

What is in your STABLE? Your STABLE ain't pretty and it stinks and has holes in it...but there lies the treasure. Inside the junk, and the garbage and the endless work (STABLE) is the dream (STAR) you have been seeking.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One last point: The wise men brought in and gave their best.

They went into the STABLE prepared to give their best. They didn't know what was inside the rank STABLE...it was dark and the STAR was outside. They just went in with anticipation, passion and desire.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.