Page Title

The Peasant and the Apple Tree

September 15, 2008

From: Noonan, D., (2005). Aesop & the ceo: powerful business insights from aesop's ancient fables. Nashville: Nelson Books.

A small apple tree growing in the middle of a peasant's garden never blossomed. Each year, the peasant grew increasingly frustrated at the tree's barrenness, and one day he decided to cut it down.

The sparrows and crickets who made their nest in its branches begged the peasant not to do it.

'This tree is valuable,' they said. 'Destroy it and you will force us to find new homes elsewhere. You won't hear our singing and chirping anymore.'

The peasant ignored their pleas, grabbed his ax, and began hacking away. But after several strokes, he realized that the tree was hollow. More curiously, the tree was dripping a yellow liquid. The peasant looked inside the trunk and found a hive of bees making a large store of honey.

Delighted with his discovery, the peasant thought to himself: Why, this small tree is more valuable than I realized and worth keeping after all!

Aesop's Moral: True value is sometimes hidden.

Business Moral: Give employees challenging assignments to help them discover their hidden talents (Noonan, 2005, p.141, 145).

Aesop & the CEO is available on loan from the Ohio State University Leadership Center. To borrow this resource or any other resource, please go to the resource search page http://164.107.48.88/winnebago/index.asp?lib

Learn how the Ohio State University Leadership Center is strengthening tomorrow's leaders today at http://leadershipcenter.osu.edu

Back to Top >

Created: 2008-12-05, Updated: 2009-01-08