The Coffee Bean

A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change

Jon Gordon, Damon West

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781119430988
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Leadership
• Index: Business

From bestselling author Jon Gordon and rising star Damon West comes The Coffee Bean: anillustrated fable that teaches readers how to transform their environment, overcome challenges, and create positive change.

Life is often difficult. It can be harsh, stressful, and feel like a pot of boiling hot water. The environments we find ourselves in can change, weaken, or harden us, and test who we truly are. We can be like the carrot that weakens in the pot or like the egg that hardens. Or, we can be like the coffee bean and discover the power inside us to transform our environment.

The Coffee Bean is an inspiring tale that follows Abe, a young man filled with stress and fear as he faces challenges and pressure at school and home. One day after class, his teacher shares with him the life-changing lesson of the coffee bean, and this powerful message changes the way he thinks, acts, and sees the world. Abe discovers that instead of letting his environment change him for the worse, he can transform any environment he is in for the better. Equipped with this transformational truth, Abe embarks on an inspirational journey to live his life like the coffee bean. Wherever his life takes him, from school, to the military, to the business world, Abe demonstrates how this simple lesson can unleash the unstoppable power within you.

A delightful, quick read, The Coffee Bean is purposely written and designed for readers of all ages so that everyone can benefit from this transformational lesson. This is a book and message that, when read and shared, has the power to change your life and the world around you. You just have to decide: are you a carrot, egg, or coffee bean?

Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

Abraham usually loved science class, but not today. Today, he hated science, school, and everything in his life. As his favorite teacher, Mr. Jackson, scanned the classroom, he noticed Abraham was not his usual self. After class, he told him to stay behind and asked him what was wrong.

Abraham, whom everyone called Abe, told Mr. Jackson how stressed he was about school. He had tests coming up and a big paper due. Not to mention that he was really nervous about the big football game Friday night.

He dreamed of playing football in college and had heard that college scouts were going to be at the game. A win would also bring his team one step closer to a state championship. To make matters worse, his parents were fighting a lot, and had even used the word “divorce” for the first time.

Abe said he tries to ignore all his problems and spends a lot of time on social media and watching videos, but that doesn’t help and actually makes him feel more negative and depressed. “It’s hard living up to the expectations everyone has when you are playing well, and it’s even harder to hear all the negative comments when you’re playing badly,” he added.

Mr. Jackson nodded, told Abe he knew exactly how he felt, and went to the whiteboard and erased the scientific formula. Then he drew a picture of a carrot inside a pot of water.

“What happens when you put a carrot in really hot water?” Mr. Jackson asked.

“It gets hot,” answered Abe.

“Well, it does more than just get hot,” answered Mr. Jackson. “I want you to go home tonight and try it and see what happens.”

Abe said he would do it, although he wondered how putting carrots in hot water was going to help him with his problems.

“Oh, and if you’ve never cooked before, ask for help. I don’t want you to burn yourself,” Mr. Jackson said with a big smile, as Abe walked out of the classroom.

The next day after class, Abe told Mr. Jackson that the carrot he put into hot water softened after about ten minutes.

“Yes, the carrot was softened and weakened by its environment. It was impacted by the conditions it was in,” said Mr. Jackson.

“Sort of like me,” Abe said.

“Actually, just like you,” Mr. Jackson responded, before going to the board and drawing a picture of an egg inside a pot of water.

“Now, tell me what happens when you put an egg inside a pot of boiling water.”

“Oh, this is an easy one,” Abe said. “You get hard-boiled eggs. Even I know that.”

“Great,” Mr. Jackson responded. “The hot water causes the egg to harden. The egg is hardened by its environment and the conditions it’s in.”

“Unfortunately, it happens to a lot of people as well. They become mean, angry, negative, and sometimes numb because of the difficult environments they are in. They grow to hate life and hate people. Their heart harde...