As one who worked at Stanford and studied its beginnings, the following is not factual. However, it does make for a good story!

A Faded Gingham Dress (An Internet Fable)

A lady, in a faded gingham dress, and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston, and walked timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's outer office.

The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge. She frowned. "We want to see the President," the man said softly. "He'll be busy all day," the secretary snapped. "We'll wait," the lady replied. For hours, the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't, and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the President, even though it was a chore she always regretted. Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them, and he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits cluttering up his outer office.

The President, stern-faced with dignity, strutted toward the couple. The lady told him, "We had a son who attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he suddenly died. And my husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus."

The President wasn't touched, he was shocked. "Madam," he said gruffly, "We can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery."

"Oh, no," the lady explained quickly. "We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard."

The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, then exclaimed, "A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical plant at Harvard." For a moment the lady was silent. The president was pleased. He could get rid of them now.

Then the lady turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a University? Why don't we just start our own?" Her husband nodded. The President's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment. And Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California, where they established the university that bears their son's name, Leland Stanford Junior University.

You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them.

It may not surprise you to know that I am an zealous reader of books related to marketing. Since I write marketing higher education books, I am always on the look-out for superior books I can enjoy myself and recommend to you, my reader. I recently, as a result of a "lead" I received from one of the computer news groups I monitor, discovered a real gem.

The book is called "Who Moved My Cheese?" It "stars" four characters, two mice named Sniff and Scurry and two little people named Hem and Haw. The book is all about CHANGE, and how to deal with it. The lessons learned in this book pave the way for change. It is a modern parable. Many Presidents have ordered copies to give to their academic, Board and administrative leaders. I think that is a brilliant idea.

I got my copy from Amazon.com for under $12. (including shipping). It is an easy read. You can read it in an hour. This little book has application in your professional life, as well as in your personal life.

The author is Spencer Johnson, M.D. The forward is by well-known Ken Blanchard,Ph.D., author of "The One Minute Manager."

In this book, "Cheese" is a metaphor for what you want to have in life. That may be a good job, a loving relationship, money, possessions, health, or spiritual peace of mind.

"The Maze" is where you look for what you want—the organization you work in, or the family or community you live in.

In the story, the characters are faced with unexpected change (sound familiar?). Eventually, one of them deals with it successfully, and writes what he has learned from his experience on the maze walls.

When you come to the "Hand writing on the Wall" you discover for yourself how to deal with change, so that you can enjoy less stress and more success (however you define it) in your work and in your life.

I give this book an A+++++!

The ISBN # is 0-399-144446-3

Bob Topor
Higher Education Marketing Senior Consultant,
Author, Lecturer, Publisher

topor@marketinged.com
(650) 962-1105

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