A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a brand new crisp £10 note. He asked the delegates, "Who would like this £10 note?" Hands shot up throughout the packed room and, looking around he said, "OK, in a moment I'm going to give this £10 note to one of you but first, just let me do this." He screwed up the note then held it up again and asked, "Who still wants it ...?"Again, hands shot up throughout the room.
"Great" he said, "and what if I do this?" He dropped the crumpled note to the floor and started to stamp on it and grind it into the carpet with his shoe.
When he stopped he reached down and picked up the now crumpled and dirty £10 note and, with a smile, said "Now who wants it?" The hands went up again, this time accompanied by laughter.
"Look around you" he said to the delegates. "You've all just witnessed a very valuable life lesson. No matter what I did to the money you still wanted it because nothing I did to it decreased its value. It was still worth £10".
Like me, I'm sure many of you have at some time or other been dropped, crumpled, stepped on and even ground into the dirt by people, organisations or just circumstance, and each time it happens it's easy to feel that you are worthless - but you're not. No matter what happens to you, just like that £10 note you'll never lose your true value.
