The million dollar answer by Francis Kong

The one million dollar answer
BUSINESS MATTERS (BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE) By Francis J. Kong
Sunday, November 4, 2007

Imagine this scene taking place in America.

A contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire program had reached the
final plateau. If she answered the next question correctly, she would
win $1,000,000. If she answered incorrectly, she would pocket only the
$32,000 milestone money.

As she suspected it would be, the million-dollar question was no
pushover: Which of the following species of birds does not build its own
nest, but instead lays its eggs in the nests of other birds? Is it:

A) The condor;

B) The buzzard;

C) The cuckoo; or

D) The vulture?

The woman was on the spot. She did not know the answer. And she was
doubly on the spot because she had used up her 50/50 lifeline and her
audience poll lifeline. All that remained was her phone-a-friend
lifeline, and the woman had hoped against hope that she would not have
to use it because the only friend that she knew would be home happened
to be a cousin. But the contestant had no alternative.

She called her friend and gave her the question and the four choices.

The cousin responded unhesitatingly: "That's easy. The answer is C: The
cuckoo."

The contestant had to make a decision and make it fast. She considered
employing a reverse strategy and giving the program host any answer
except the one that her friend had given her. And considering that her
cousin did not do well in school and has a reputation of being wrong in
her opinion most of the time, it would seem to be the logical thing to
do. On the other hand, the cousin had responded with such confidence,
such certitude, that the contestant could not help but be persuaded. "I
need an answer," said the program host.

"C: The cuckoo."

"Is that your final answer?" asked the program host.

"Yes, that is my final answer."

Two seconds later, the program host said, "I regret to inform you that
the answer is ... absolutely correct. You are now a millionaire! "

A few days later, the contestant hosted a party for her family and
friends, including the cousin who had helped her win the million
dollars. "Anne, I just do not know how to thank you," said the
contestant. "Because of your knowing the answer to that final question,
I am now a millionaire. And do you want to know something? It was the
assuredness with which you answered the question that convinced me to go
with your choice. By the way, how did you happen to know the right answer?"

"Oh, come on!" said the cousin. "Everybody knows that cuckoos don't
build nests. They live in clocks."

Wrong reason but it was the right answer. How could that be?

Think about this. Even a defective clock is right twice a day.

But it was the degree of confidence coming from the cousin that created
a lot of difference. Confidence makes all the difference.

An ancient legend tells of a general whose army was afraid to fight. The
soldiers were frightened. The enemy was too strong. Its fortress was too
high and weapons too mighty. The king, however, was not afraid. He knew
his men would win. How could he convince them? He had an idea. He told
his soldiers that he possessed a magical coin. A prophetic coin. A coin
which would foretell the outcome of the battle. On one side was an eagle
and on the other a bear He would toss the coin. If it landed eagle-side
up, they would win. If it landed with the bear up, they would lose. The
army was silent as the coin flipped in the air. Soldiers circled as it
fell to the ground. They held their breath as they looked and shouted
when they saw the eagle. The army would win.

Bolstered by the assurance of victory the men marched against the castle
and won. It was only after the victory that the king showed the men the
coin. The two sides were identical. Though the story is fictional, the
truth is reliable: assured victory empowers the army.

One look at what's going on and we have every reason to be depressed and
fearful. We need to have confidence and we need to have faith.

But faith and confidence in what?

I don't know about you but what keeps me going is the same thing that
has kept a lot of people going too; faith and confidence in God. Billy
Graham said it best when he said: "I've read the last page of the Bible.
It's all going to turn out all right."

Now tell me. What keeps you going?


--Jazon--