Strengths, Not Weaknesses
There was once a poor and illiterate, young Greek who applied for a job as cleaner-cum-caretaker for a company in Athens. Being an amiable young man, he soon found himself on a shortlist with just one other person. For a time, he was the favorite to get the job but he lost out when it was discovered that he couldn’t read or write. Completely demoralized by the experience and wanting to run as far away as possible, the young man managed to secure passage on board a ship bound for England. Picking up the story many years later, the now rich and successful Greek shipping tycoon was being interviewed by a reporter. At the end of the interview, the reporter suggested that the businessman should write his autobiography but the tycoon replied, “I’m afraid that wouldn’t be possible. You see, I cannot read or write!” The reporter was dumbfounded and responded, “If that’s true, then just imagine how much more you would have achieved if you could.” The Greek tycoon shook his head, “If I could read and write,” he retorted, “I’d have been a caretaker in Athens!”
