The Castle and the Wall

A simple story that communicates a profound truth: demanding results at any cost can be an expensive undertaking in more ways than one. Good leaders, and to some extent all of us, have to pay attention to the details. Whether it's a king ignoring where his stones come from, or an everyday person ignoring where all the things he takes for granted—food, clothes, or even a cup of coffee—come from, the cost of not paying attention can be high indeed. Good leadership means good stewardship of the employees and resources we're responsible for.

Transcript: A foolish king owned a beautiful castle, but no one lived in it, and thieves often broke in. So the king hired the first workman he could find to surround the castle with a rock wall.

The workman ran out of rocks and sent for the king. The king snapped, "Who cares where you get more rocks? Just build that wall!"

Months later, the king visited and found a high and imposing rock wall. But when he entered the gate . . . the castle was gone!

The workman said, "Without any stones, I could only use the castle itself."

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. Leadership isn't just giving orders. A wise leader provides both a clear vision and the means to get the job done . . . in the high calling of our daily work.

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'"

(Luke 14:28-30)