Every morning, the CEO of a prestigious Manhattan bank followed his usual routine, stopping at a familiar street corner to have his shoes shined by a skilled and friendly shoeshine man. As he settled into the chair and unfolded his “Wall Street Journal”, the shoeshine man worked diligently, transforming the worn leather into a polished masterpiece.
One morning, as he buffed the final shine, the shoeshine man looked up and casually asked, “Sir, what’s your take on the stock market these days?”
The CEO, slightly amused, peered over the rim of his newspaper. “Why would you be interested in that?” he asked, his tone laced with condescension.
The shoeshine man smiled and replied, “Well, I’ve got a million dollars sitting in your bank, and I’m thinking about investing some of it.”
The CEO’s smile vanished. He stiffened slightly. “What’s your name?”
“John Smith H.,” the shoeshine man answered, dusting off his hands.
Intrigued, the CEO hurried to his office and immediately called the head of the Major Accounts Department. “Do we have a customer named John Smith H.?”
The manager scanned the records and looked up, eyes wide. “Yes, sir! He’s one of our most valued clients. He has a million-dollar balance in his account.”
Stunned, the CEO wasted no time. He rushed back to the street corner and approached the shoeshine man with a newfound respect.
“Mr. Smith,” he said warmly, “I would be honored if you would join us at our next board meeting. We would love to hear your life story.”
The Boardroom Revelation
The following Monday, the bank’s boardroom was packed with top executives, all eager to meet the mysterious millionaire shoeshine man. The CEO stood at the head of the table and addressed the group.
“Gentlemen, we all know Mr. Smith as the man who keeps our shoes looking impeccable. But today, we discover he is also a man of remarkable financial wisdom. Mr. Smith, please share your journey.”
Mr. Smith adjusted his cap, cleared his throat, and began.
“I arrived in this country fifty years ago as a young immigrant from Europe. My name was long and difficult to pronounce, so I changed it to Smith, figured it would make things easier.”
The room was silent, hanging onto his every word.
“I was broke and starving when I first got here. Then, one day, I spotted a coin on the sidewalk. I had two choices, spend it on food to ease my hunger or invest it in my future. I bought apples instead and sold them for a small profit. I reinvested that money into more apples, selling them for even more.
“Soon, I had enough to buy shoe polish and brushes. I started shining shoes, always saving every penny, never spending money on luxuries. Bread and cheese were enough for me.
“Over time, I expanded, better tools, a comfortable chair for my customers, a prime street corner. I lived simply and never wasted a dime. Eventually, I even bought out a competitor when he retired. That’s how I built my fortune, penny by penny.”
The boardroom was silent. Executives leaned forward, captivated by the story of such resilience and discipline.
Mr. Smith paused, took a deep breath, and then, with a twinkle in his eye, delivered the final twist.
“And then… three months ago, my sister, who was a lady of the night in Chicago, passed away and left me a million dollars.”
Silence.
Then, laughter erupted throughout the boardroom.
The CEO wiped a tear of amusement from his eye. “Mr. Smith, you had us in the palm of your hand.”
With a knowing grin, Mr. Smith leaned back and said, “Well, sir, that’s what a good businessman does.”