Toy Box

Have you ever watched a a little boy look for a specific toy in a toy box? How does he go about it?

He runs over to the toy box...he can't wait to find the toy he wants. He's got a determined look on his face as he wrecklessly approaches the box. It's one of those big cedar boxes, kind of like a chest, so you can't see what's inside, but he knows that TOYS are in there and at the moment he's anticipating a specific toy.

As he opens the box, his face lights up as he looks at all the toys. A big smile comes over his face and his eyes go wide. For a second, he forgets what toy he wants to find because he is so excited by all the toys in the box. Each toy represents an opportunity for fun..."Wow, he thinks...LOOK at all these toys. Now for the fun he is looking for at this moment only one toy will do, and he knows it's in the box, he just doesn't know where it is.

As he gazes into the box, his first thought, when he doesn't see it, is where is it? How does he go about looking for the toy? He starts sorting through the box as fast as he can. He starts grabbing toys and throwing them out of the box as fast as he can. He doesn't stop each time he picks up a toy and lament about how this toy is not the toy. No...he knows the toy is in their and he is focused on finding it. Each time he picks up a toy that isn't the right toy, he starts moving a little faster...He wants to find the toy and he wants to find it as soon as possible!

The determined smile doesn't leave his little face...he just keeps grabbing and tossing until finally he finds the toy. He doesn't settle for another toy...he has one purpose and one purpose only...to find the toy. Sometimes, though, the toy he's looking for isn't in the box. He's left it somewhere else, or his parents put it away somewhere else. What does he do when he can't find it in the box? Does he sit down and cry because it's not in the box? Well....maybe he does and maybe he doesn't...it depends on what he's learned in life to this point. Even if he cries, it won't be for long...he will begin a new level of search. He will go to his parents and try to get them to direct him to where the toy might be. If they don't know, he will start looking in other places...but one thing is certain...he is not stopping until he finds the toy.

This is how you prospect. Your contacts are like the toy box. You can't make someone be the toy if they aren't ready to be the toy. You just keep looking until you find the toy...the person who is ready to play, the person who is ready to take action on building a better life for themselves. You don't lament the toys that aren't ready to be played with. You don't let their lack of readiness disolve your focus. You can cry every now and then if you want...but only for a minute, then you keep searching. The toy is in the box in one way or another. The toys that aren't ready for you to play with? You learn to take care of them (treat them respectfully) because one day they might be ready to play! Put on your determined smile and go play!