John and Bobby joined a wholesale company together just after graduation from college the same year. Both worked very hard. After several years, however, the boss promoted Bobby to the position of manager but John remained an ordinary employee. John could not take it anymore, tendered his resignation to the boss and complained the boss did not know how to delegate and did not value hard working staff, but only promoted those who flattered him.
The boss knew that John worked very hard for the years. He thought a moment and said, “Thank you for your criticism, but I have a request. I hope you will do one more thing for our company before you leave. Perhaps you will change your decision and take back your resignation.”
John agreed. The boss asked him to go and find out anyone selling watermelon in the market. John went and returned soon. He said he had found out a man selling watermelon. The boss asked how much per kg? John shook his head and went back to the market to ask and returned to inform the boss $1.2 per kg.
Boss told John to wait a second, and he called Bobby to come to his office. He asked Bobby to go and find anyone selling watermelon in the market. Bobby went, returned and said, “Boss, only one person is selling watermelon. $1.2 per kg, $10 for 10kg. He has inventory of 340 melons. On the table are 58 melons. Every melon weights about 2 kg, bought from the South two days ago. They are fresh and red, of good quality.”
John was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Bobby. He decided not to resign but to learn from Bobby.
约翰和博比同一年大学毕业，之后，同时进入一家批发公司工作。两人工作都很卖力。但是，几年以后，老板让博比升任经理，约翰却还是一名普通职员。约翰不能接受这个状况，就向老板正式提出了辞职，他还抱怨说老板不懂量才用人，对玩命工作的员工根本不重视，就只提拔那些马屁精。
老板深知约翰这些年来工作非常卖力。他想了一会儿，说：“谢谢你给我提出的意见，不过，我有个请求。希望你在离开之前再为公司做一件事。也许你会改变决定、收回辞呈的。”
约翰答应了。老板让他去找集市上每一个西瓜贩子调研。约翰去了，但很快就回来了。他说他只找到一个卖西瓜的。老板问西瓜每公斤卖多少钱。约翰摇了摇头，又跑回集市去问，回来跟老板汇报说每公斤卖1.2美元。
老板让约翰等一下，同时把博比叫来办公室，让他去探探集市上西瓜的行情。博比去了，回来之后说：“老板，只有一个人卖西瓜。一公斤卖1.2美元，买十公斤的话，优惠到十美元。他共有340个西瓜的存货。桌上放着58个，每个重约2公斤，都是两天前从南部进的货。西瓜都很新鲜，红瓤，都是好瓜。”
约翰很有感触，意识到了自己和博比之间的差距。他不但决定收回辞呈，还决心要向博比看齐。
-tender [ˈtendə(r)] v. 正式提出
不论是学习还是工作，不经对比，怎知差距？直面差距，迎头奋起，是为成长。