The Invisible Employee: Using Carrots to See the Hidden Potential in Everyone, Second Edition

Chapter 5. Visible Results

In no time at all, it seemed to Ian, it was the Fruits of the Laborer ceremony again. As he dressed in his ceremonial robes, Ian's mind raced. This would not be like any ceremony before—and hopefully there would never be one like it again.

But Ian was the only one, it seemed, with any tension on this special night. All around him, people went about their normal routines, preparing without much interest for the gems they would reap during the evening's festivities.

Together, the Highlanders hoisted the obligatory baskets filled with fruits and grains and vegetables onto their shoulders and walked to the foothills of the first mountain. Before entering the clearing, they stopped to arrange their procession, the thick underbrush hiding them and the place of offering from view. People whispered to each other as they adjusted their baskets. Someone behind Ian straightened a backpack.

Suddenly, the drums began, and the chief elder pushed through the trees and entered the clearing. Then he stopped abruptly. The Highlanders immediately behind him bumped into each other. Baskets were jostled, and a few tumbled to the ground. The drums missed a beat, then slowly trailed off as one by one the Highlanders entered the clearing. And stopped, incredulous.

There was nothing in the chests.

Nothing but a small handful of broken stones in the bottom of one box. The rest were empty. The wind blew up a dust devil and a hinge on a chest lid squeaked. For a moment, every eye ...