For thirty years, Johnson had arrived at work

at 9A.M. on the dot. He had never missed a

day and was never late.

Consequently, when on one particular day

9 A.M. passed without Johnson's arrival, it

caused a sensation. All work ceased, and the

boss himself, looking at his watch and muttering,

came out into the corridor.

Finally, precisely at ten, Johnson showed up,

clothes dusty and torn, his face scratched and

bruised, his glasses bent. He limped painfully to

the time clock, punched in, and said, aware that

all eyes were upon him, "I tripped and rolled down

two flights of stairs in the subway. Nearly killed

myself."

And the boss said, "And to roll down two flights

Fresh out of business school, a young man answered

a want ad for an accountant. Now he was being

interviewed by a very nervous man who ran a small

business that he had started himself.

"I need someone with an accounting degree," the

man said. "But mainly, I'm looking for someone to

do my worrying for me."

"Excuse me?" the accountant said.

"I worry about a lot of things," the man said. "But I

don't want to have to worry about money. Your job

will be to take all the money worries off my back."

"I see," the accountant said. "And how much does

the job pay?"

"I'll start you at eighty thousand."

"Eighty thousand dollars!" the accountant exclaimed.

"How can such a small business afford a sum like

that?"