Investing in your actions

The story is told of William Waldorf Astor about a time when he was traveling around Philadelphia, couldn't make it into the city and couldn't find a hotel to stay in between smaller towns.  Finally, he entered a decent sized town and chanced upon a hotel. He had been traveling with his wife, it was 1 in the morning, and rain, lightning, and thunder had followed them for most of the night.

The young man at the desk informed Astor, who was just an elderly man to him since he didn't know Waldorf, that three conventions were in town and there were no rooms available.  Then, the young man said, "But I live in the hotel and you can stay with me in my room.  It's not a suite or anything, but I don't think you and your wife should have to go back out into the rain at 1 in the morning."  Astor declined and turned to go when the young man said, "Don't worry about me. You can have my room."  Astor replied, "You are exactly the kind of man that should run a hotel for me."  The two had a laugh, the Astors stayed the night in the young man's room and left the next morning.

Two years later, the young man received a letter in the mail inviting him to New York to meet the elderly man he had helped in the storm.  Enclosed were round-trip tickets.  When the two met on 5th Avenue and 36th street, the older man introduced himself, pointed to a brand new building, and said, "I have built this building for you."  Of course, the young man thought the older man was joking because he didn't recognize the name of William Waldorf Astor until he looked on the top of the building and saw the hotel's name Waldorf Astoria and on the door saw his name as General Manager.  George Boldt from that moment on was the best operator of the best hotel in New York City.

An ancient Hebrew teacher/philosopher taught, "Cast your bread upon the waters and it will return to you."

George Boldt would agree 1000 times over.  I suspect every living adult has this story to tell in one fashion or another.  It's a very trustworthy saying, true in thought and in experience.