The Present

NEW VERSION
The Gift that Makes You
Happy and Successful
at Work and in Life

By Dr. Spencer Johnson

Spencer Johnson, M.D. is an
international best-selling author
whose books help millions of people
discover simple truths they can use
to have healthier lives with more
success and less stress.
He is the Originator and co-Author of
The One Minute Manager the #1
Neil, York Times bestseller, written
with legendary management
consultant Kenneth Blanchard,
Ph.D. The book continues to appear
on Business Bestseller Lists and has
become the most popular
management method in the world.
Dr. Johnson has written many best
sellers, including five other books in
the “One Minute” series: The One
Minute $ales Person, The One
Minute Mother, The One Minute
Father, One Minute For Yourself,
and The One Minute Teacher; Yes or
No; the popular Value Tales™
children's books; and the perennial
gift favorite, The Precious Present.
Wisdom in a Nutshell

This book is a practical parable about

a young man who has spent much of
his lifetime searching for the elusive
yet considered the most precious gift
any man can ever receive The Present.
This engaging story narrates on the
importance of living in the Now-- the
present moment. Spencer Johnson
stressed that receiving and recognizing
The Present can bring success and
happiness to anyone's life. Discover
how this precious gift can bring change
into your life and career.
After a promotion on the same company Bill left,
Liz has become over stressed and overworked.
Problems, both professionally and personally, don't
seem to stop mounting over her. Liz is currently in
a very tight spot; she doesn't know what to do.
Apparently, Liz needed help.
Bill, on the other hand, seems to be having the
best time of his life. He is a lot happier, satisfied
and successful. Bill continued to relate the story
with the hope that it would inspire and change
Liz's view of her professional and personal life– as
much as it did for him. Bill tells the story of The
Present.
The boy asked if The Present was like
a magic wand that makes all wishes
come true, or a time machine that could
bring him anywhere, or something that
can make him really rich.

To these, the old man only said:

• When you receive The Present, you no

longer dream of being somewhere else.

• The Present can lead you to many kinds

of riches. But its value is not measured by
gold or money alone.
The once-little-boy was happy
mowing the lawn because he
liked doing it, was focused, and
thought only about cutting the
grass during that moment. The
concentration and the attention
he gave to that specific time
was what made him happy.
There are times when you have
to look at the past, pick up the
lessons you need to learn from
it, let go and then move on.

“You already know what The Present is. You

already know where to find it. And you already
know how it can make you happy and successful.
You knew it best when you were younger. You have
simply forgotten,”

The old man said. Despite this, the teenager still

didn't get what the old man was trying to say.
The teenager grew into a young man
searching for The Present on his own.
He read books, articles and magazines
but nothing had any mention of The
Present. Tired, discouraged and
disappointed, the young man gave
up his search.
When the young man could not balance his life!!!
At work, he hardly got jobs done. He was His personal life wasn't doing any better
always preoccupied with so many other either. His break-up with a girlfriend caused
things– the meetings, other projects to be him to worry if he would ever find a true
done, schedules. After such frustration, love. The loose ends, unrealized dreams and
the young man became a little more tired his desperation rekindled the long lost desire
and disappointed after each working day. for The Present. He then decided to see the
old man, again.
Everyone should learn to look for
what is right at a bad situation
and then eventually build on it
rather that get distracted by the
wrongs in it.
In the mountain, the young man recalled
what the wise old man had told him about
The Present:

• It is a gift that you give to yourself. You'd

known it best when you were younger.
You'd simply forgotten it.
• When you are fully engaged in what you are
doing your mind doesn't wander and you
are happy. You are intent only on what is
happening at that moment.
When the young man went back to
the cabin, he noticed and gazed at
the impressive fireplace crafted
and perfected out of a mason's
dedication and focus.
Wow…..I get it!!!
• The Present is not the past and is not
the future. The Present is the Present
moment. The Present is Now!

• Being in The Present means focusing

on what is happening right now! It
means appreciating the gifts what
you are offered every day.
Even in the most difficult situations,
when you focus on what is right at the
present moment, it makes you happier,
and gives you the needed energy and
confidence to deal with what is wrong.

Being in The Present means focusing on “what is,

right now” and “what is right, now”, whatever the
situation is.

Everyone should learn to look for what is right

at a bad situation and then eventually build on it
rather that get distracted by the wrongs in it.
“Being in the present means turning
out distractions, and paying
attention to what is important,
now. You can create your own
present by what you give your
attention to.”
When the young man concentrated at applying at work the things he
learned from the old man regarding The Present.
At work, He began solving the problems one His personal life also seemed to flourish. He
by one, focused on the projects he had at got himself a wonderful woman and started
hand at that particular moment, and learned to develop a great relationship with her.
to listen attentively to his colleagues. He
became a lot more effective and happier.
However, one day, when he
taught he knew how it is to be in
The Present, a problem at work
arose. He deliberately carried the
load that has to be done with a
partner, alone. He missed the
deadline and the boss expressed
his disappointment. The young
man failed. He wondered what
the old man would do at that
particular moment.
It is hard to let go of the Past if you
have not learned from the Past. As
soon as you learn and let Go, you
improve the Present.

The young man approached the old man again to

discuss the failure he had at work. Apparently, it
occurred that the young man is still haunted by the
failures of his past.

According to the old man, it is helpful still to look at

The Past while you are in The Present so just to
improve it. There are times when you have to look at
the past, pick up the lessons you need to learn from it,
let go and then move on.
To do such, the young man noted:

• Look at what happened from the past.

• Learn something valuable from it.
• Use what you learn to improve
The Present.
Anytime you are unhappy in the
Present or feeling unsuccessful, it
is time to learn from the Past and
plan for the Future.

You cannot change the Past, but you can

learn from it. When the same situation
arises, you can do things differently and
enjoy a more successful Present.

The young man politely confronted the

partner he had with the project that
recently failed. He learned to deal better
with people. He finally got promoted.
His promotion, however, was faced with increasing
demands. He had not developed a daily schedule.
Projects then started to spun out of his control.
Discouraged and uncertain of what to do next,
the young man got back to his old friend.
The idea of the present tells that
is not wise to be in the future,
however, there is nothing bad
with planning for it.

As the old man had put it:

No one can predict or control the future.

However, the more you plan for what you
want to see happen, the less anxious you
are in The Present, and the more the
Future is known to you.
To plan, the young man took note of the following
guides:

• Picture what a wonderful future would be like.

• Create a realistic plan to make it happen.
• Put your plan into action in the present.
Living in The Present;
Learning from The Past;
Planning for The Future.

The old man categorized the idea of The

Present as like that of a tripod balanced
perfectly by its three supporting legs:

Living in The Present; Learning from

The Past; and, Planning for The Future.

Take one leg out and the tripod topples

over. Keeping the balance among the
three will help you deal better with any
thing that comes along.
The young man effectively used the
idea of applying the third element of
The Present in his work. He became
really good at his job and he even
made a dramatic contribution to save
his company from a possible across-
the-board cut in costs. He even had his
personal life put on the right track. He
and his girlfriend started planning for
a future together.
Inevitably, after several years, the old man died.
The once-young-man had it into himself badly to
lose someone as wise as the old man. His death
caused him to wonder what it was that made him
spent much time and effort sharing all about The
Present.
With this the man noted his own wonderful discoveries:

1. Living in the Present, learning from the Past and

planning for the Future is not all there is.
2. It is only when you live with Purpose and respond to
what's important about the Present, Past, and Future,
that is all has meaning.
3. How you respond depends upon your purpose.
4. When you want to be happy and more successful, it is
time to be in the Present moment.
5. When you want the Present to be better than the Past,
it is time to learn form the Past.
6. When you want the Future to be better than the
Present, it is time to plan for the future.
7. When you live and work with purpose, and respond to
what is important now, you are more able to lead,
manage, support, befriend, and love.
8. Success is becoming who you are capable of being and
progressing toward worthwhile goals.
9. Each of us defined for ourselves what it means
to be successful.
The man became old himself –
prosperous, respected, and loved.
He decided to spend part of his life
with the same compassion the
wise old man had. He lived with
the same purpose to help others
become happy and successful. He
chose to share the story of The
Present to a lot of other people
using the summary he had written
down a few years back
Three Ways to Use Your Present Moments
1. Be in the Present: When you want to be happy and
successful.
§ Focus on what is right now.
§ Use your purpose to respond to what is
important now.

2. Learn from the Past: When you want to make the

Present better than the Past.
§ Look at what happened in the Past.
§ Learn something valuable from it.
§ Do Things Differently in the Present.

3. Plan for the Future: When you want to make the

Future better than the Present.
§ See what a wonderful future would you like.
§ Make plans to help it happen.
§ Put your plan into your action in the Present.
Liz knew she needed to hear the story.
Personally, she took her own action
points to live her own Present.
At work, she discovered that she
was always in The Past and in The
Future, and never in The Present.
She was always overstressed with
her work. Her boss would even
reiterate that she was still riding on
her old successes.

Instead of blocking what the boss

said, Liz tried to evaluate the
situation and labeled it as her Past
that she can learn from.
At home, she realized her own Purpose
as being the mother to her son. After
hearing the story and learning about
having a Purpose, Liz started listening
to her son.

Concentrating on her son at every

particular moment caused a huge
turnover in their relationship.
Liz also spent extra time sharing The
Present to her colleagues, friends and
loved ones. The dramatic changes have
pleased her more than ever. Now she's
happiest to see the people that she
values live in The Present.
“Living in the Present, learning from the Past and planning for the Future”

Thank You Very Much

Sompong Yusoontorn