The World’s Finest Chocolate

I was dozing on my couch after a day at work when the doorbell jarred me back to reality.

The clock on the wall unit told me it was 7:12. As the Managing Editor of NBC6.net, I am up at 4:00 a.m. each day. Anyone who calls or shows up at my door after 6:00 p.m. is punishable by the wrath of the not-so-nice twin of my Gemini personality.

So, when the doorbell rang a second time, I sprang to attention – not so much to see who was at the door, but to introduce whoever it was to my worse half.

I'm a morning person. I spring out of bed with a song on my lips and warmth in my heart. But by the time the dinner dishes are taking their bath in the dishwasher, I'm like a cranky toddler who needs a serious nap.

I flung open the door with my bad-attitude-waiting-to-happen perched on my shoulder.

Standing in front of me was a little boy. He was about 10 years old. In his hands was a box of chocolates which he’d carefully opened so I could see what was inside. A few feet away from him was a little girl on a bicycle.

I told my bad attitude to take a hike.

“What do you have to offer today, little man?” I asked.

“The world’s finest chocolate,” he replied.

Perhaps it was the certainness with which he said it, or my weakness for all things begotten from the cocoa bean. But I truly believed he was selling the world’s finest chocolate.

“How much?” I asked.

“A dollar a bar,” he said. “How many would you like?”

I ran inside and managed to scrounge up four single dollar bills, three quarters, two dimes and a nickel. I am notorious for never carrying cash. I learned right then and there that woman does not live by debit card alone.

I handed over the cash and went back inside with five bars of God’s greatest gift to tastebuds.

It was then that it hit me.

The gift had come disguised as a little boy selling chocolate. The real gift was the lesson hidden underneath the foil and paper wrapper.

If you believe, you can achieve.

There was no doubt in his mind that he was selling the world’s finest chocolate. And by transferring that belief to me, I was sold instantly.


Imagine if the next time someone asked you what you had to offer you told them:

“I help people plant roots in their community so their family tree can expand.” You’d have a captive audience and a new friend for sure.

Why then do you sell yourself short and say “Oh, I’m a real estate agent.”

Or how about: “I influence the future more than anyone else." Yet, you miss the mark entirely and say: “I’m a teacher.”

How much more powerful would it be to look beyond the obvious and tell people what you really do. In return you’d discover who you really are.

As I was closing the door after buying the world’s finest chocolate, I overheard a conversation that made it all even more worthwhile.

“Did she buy anything?” the girl on the bicycle asked.

“Yeah! She bought five!” the little man replied.

“I told you she was cool,” the girl said.

This was indeed the world’s finest chocolate.