John C. Maxwell Quote

I love the story about the old farmer, ragged and barefooted, who sat on the steps of his tumbledown shack, chewing on a stem of grass. A passerby stopped and asked if he might have a drink of water. Wishing to be sociable, the stranger engaged the farmer in some conversation. How is your cotton crop this year? Ain’t got none, replied the farmer. Didn’t you plant any cotton? asked the passerby. Nope, said the farmer, ’fraid of boll weevils. Well, asked the newcomer, how’s your corn doing? Didn’t plant none, replied the farmer, ’fraid there wasn’t going to be enough rain. Well, asked the inquisitive stranger, what did you plant? Nothing, said the farmer, I just played it safe. A lot of well-intentioned people live by the philosophy of this farmer, and never risk upsetting the apple cart. They would prefer to play it safe. These people will never know the thrill of victory, because to win a victory one must risk a failure. C.