The Seed of Greatness Story

The complete story by Mike Murphy sfC

It all began in February 1977 when I declared bankruptcy for the company I founded. I felt like I was a failure to my family, friends, and God. I then became what some people think is on the bottom of success: a janitor. By the grace of God I didn’t become homeless. I wanted to become someone successful and have what some people believe is success: a lot of money, prestige, power. I didn’t like being a janitor.

Now, I believe that God works in mysterious ways. One day I found a book called “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. It had a secret to success hidden in it. I read and reread this book and started to put into practice some of the principles. One day as I was reading a paper about a famous person from my hometown who was running for president, I realized that he had the same environment of this small community. I decided to help him win the presidency and co wrote a campaign song for him. This gave me confidence as we became overnight celebrities in our small community. But I was still a janitor.

As time went by the man became president. After reading more books on how to succeed I started going to places that the president had been, as environment has a bearing on what we become.

One day as I was sitting by the river an acorn hit me on my bald head. The president probably had this happen to him. It is so peaceful at this spot. I was given an idea that the president might like that acorn to remind him of how peaceful a place it was. Everyone needs reminders. Off went the acorn in an envelope to the president.

The next day as I was sitting again in the same place and thinking about how an acorn grows into a great oak tree I was given another idea about making something so simple and yet so great to sell to the world as a reminder. It had to be something that anyone who was down and out could have done the same thing with what they have been given. I was given the idea of taking two acorns and putting them on a piece of oak and burning the words “The Seed of Greatness is within us…” on it. I was also given the message about how an acorn grows into a great oak and how we can become great also.

I sent the first plaque to the president and he sent a great letter back to me wishing me much success. This started me contacting all the great people I could think of and giving them a plaque.

Great things began to happen; I even lost my job as janitor because the building was sold. I had learned that the owner was going to sell so I planned for that day. When he sent me a letter telling me my services would no longer be needed, I told him that I had a job working for one of the richest persons (W. Clement Stone) who had one of the plaques.

As I kept reading more books I became one of the top salespersons for his firm. I learned a lot from that person. He co-authored some books with Napoleon Hill. He said that the bible was the greatest self-help book. I started to read it. Things really began to happen.

I left his company after only six months as I travelled a lot and missed my family. Family is one of the most important elements of greatness. I worked as a carpenter for a short while and then the company I worked for went under. I was offered a job as an insurance representative for a fraternal organization but couldn’t make a living at it. I kept searching for The Secret to success but it seemed to keep eluding me.

I kept communicating with some of the great names in history. I wrote to the richest man in the world and asked for his help with the plaque and message. He wanted to help but he was dying. All his money couldn’t help him do what he wanted to do. I learned a great lesson from him: Money is not the answer to greatness in life; it is how we serve and love others.

After continually reading the bible, the greatest book ever written, I kept asking and searching and knocking. I began thinking of what Abe Lincoln said: “Good boys who to their books apply, will all be great men by and by.” So I got as many books on greatness as I could. Things really began to happen.

I started planning ‘The Seed of Greatness Show’; a mobile auditorium of thirty-three semi tractor trailers. This will be: The Greatest Motivational Show on Earth, because of reading two of the greatest books (‘The Secret’ and ‘The Power’) since the Bible and buying the movie ‘The Secret’. The Seed Of Greatness Show will have it’s Premier June 8,9,10, 2011 from 7pm til 10pm.