Identity

The CEO of a large corporation was giving a speech to over a thousand factory employees one afternoon in a large hall. As was his personality, the CEO launched into a long, self-involved diatribe that went on for over an hour. He noticed that in the front row there was a young man who had clearly fallen asleep and was soundly snoring away throughout the speech.

The CEO controlled his temper but after the speech, as people were getting up to exit the hall, he went up to the young man and tapped him sternly on the shoulder, saying

"Do you know who I am? I am the CEO of the company you work for and the man you fell asleep on during an important speech! I should fire you right now on the spot!"

The young man looked the CEO back and asked,

"Sir, do you know who I am?"

The CEO responded that he did not, adding that it was impossible for him to know the names and faces of the over thousand employees of his company.

The young man smiled, and said, "That's absolutely true, sir. Bye!"

And with that, the young fellow quickly merged back into the exiting crowd of a thousand.


Moral of the Story: Sometimes, being anonymous and not standing out in a large crowd is better than affirming your unique identity.