Make the Most of Every Opportunity

Despite its general unpopularity in the world today, hard work and free enterprise have historically built some of our most successful businesses. For example, there was the young Cincinnati grocer who had $372 and idea: sell many goods at a small mark-up each to obtain a larger overall profit. Today Bernard Kroger’s grocery chain boasts more than 2,500 stores in 32 states. F.W. Woolworth was another man with a unique plan. His boss asked him to gather up some items and sell them to get what he could. Woolworth posted a sign offering any article on the counter for just five cents. The items quickly sold out, thus giving Woolworth the idea for the first five-and-ten-cent store (an idea Sam Walton later adapted to propel Wal-Mart into becoming the world’s largest retailer). Every day presents new opportunities, and each of us must choose whether to seize them or let them slip away. With God as your guide, step out and follow your dreams. You never know what good things God might have in store for you.

Source: Church Leaders Intelligence Report, 14-May-2008, adapted from On This Day, Carl Windsor, Howard, 2007.