Business Lessons through Children's Books - Part 2

A Silky Thread Trailed from Her Body...
By Gwendolyn Gardner


"Early one morning the wind blew a spider across the field. A thin, silky thread trailed from her body," begins Eric Carle's The Very Busy Spider. There is a business lesson in this classic children's book, and I'll let you all ponder it.


The spider lands on a fence post and begins spinning her web. She has a lot of work to do on this day.


I know you feel the same way.


You jumped in the shower, made your child's lunch, and printed out extra business cards all before the coffee maker decided to go on a Monday morning breakdown. You really don't know where you are going to land first today--but you do--and you move on to the next task.


A friendly horse enters the scene of the clever book, "Neigh! Neigh!" said the horse. "Want to go for a ride? The spider didn't answer she was very busy spinning her web."


Your best friend calls because she amazingly has the day off and wants to tell you about the cute red, shiny shoes she bought after she finished breakfast." You say, "Can't talk now. I'm on my way to my meeting with the attorney."


"Oink, Oink!" grunted the pig. "Want to roll in the mud?" Our friendly spider did not reply, because she was creating a masterful web.


After the attorney meeting, you notice your gas gauge is flashing empty in large yellow letters. So, you stop, fill the tank, and remember you have to pick up bread.


"Woof! Woof!" barked the dog. "Want to chase a cat?" The busy spider's web continues to grow in gossamer white, and she does not respond.


On your way to your office, you remember you forgot to call your child's school to say that Uncle Ed is picking up because you will miss pick-up by 15 minutes, at least, and that will cost money. "You rattle off the secret password so the receptionist knows you aren't some freak, just as another call from a client dings in...Hello?"


"Quack! Quack! called the duck. "Want to go for a swim? The busy spider didn't answer. She had now finished her web."


You decide to stop at the yellow light instead of trying to make your way through because--well, you need the rest.


"Cock-a-doodle do!" crowed the rooster. "Want to catch a pesty fly? And the spider caught the fly in her web...just like that!"


You make it home, prepare the tomato basil pasta and garlic bread--all organic--of course, toss your child's clothes in the dryer--because she wants to wear the tie dye shirt again to school tomorrow, open the mail--recycling all unnecessary paper items, find the books for bed underneath the couch, wash your child until she's shiny, and fall into bed.


"Whoo? Whoo? asked the owl. Who built this beautiful web? The spider didn't answer. She had fallen asleep."


As I finish the night time story, my daughter says, "Mommy, look there is a little spider crawling on the wall over there? Should we catch it and let it go free outside?"


"No, I say. Just let her be for now--I don't want the outside wind to blow her somewhere else. She needs to rest. She's probably had a very busy day."

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