More from the workaday world..

I was doing some looking around for some data for another entry and I came across this by way of the extremely readable Monster blog. It’s a great observation.

© 2005 from Games Companies Play: The Job Hunter's Guide to Playing Smart & Winning Big in the High-Stakes Hiring Game by Pierre Mornell

Once upon a time, a highly successful executive was hit by a bus, and she died. She was met at the pearly gates by St. Peter himself. “Welcome to Heaven,” said St. Peter. “Before you get settled in though, it seems we have a problem. Strangely enough, we’ve never once had an executive make it this far, and we’re really not sure this is where you belong. What we’re going to do is let you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven. Then you can choose where you want to spend eternity.”

“Actually,” said the woman, “I think I’d prefer to stay in Heaven.”

“Sorry, we have rules...,” said St. Peter, and with that, he put the executive in an elevator, and it went down, down, down to Hell.

The doors opened, and the executive stepped out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf course. In the distance was a country club, and there to greet her were her business associates, friends, and colleagues, all dressed in evening clothes and cheering for her. They ran up and kissed her on both cheeks, and they talked about old times. They played a great round of golf and went to the country club for dinner and dancing that night, where she enjoyed an excellent steak and lobster meal.

She met the Devil, who was actually a really nice guy (kinda cute). The conversation was spirited, and she never laughed so hard in her life. In fact, she was having such a good time that before she knew it, it was time to leave. Everybody shook her hand and waved goodbye as she got on the elevator. The elevator went up, up, up, St. Peter awaited her.

“Now it’s time to spend a day in Heaven,” he said. And for twenty-four hours, she lounged on clouds, caught a harp concert, and listened to a choir of angels. She had a great time, and before she knew it, her twenty-four hours were up.

“So, you’ve spent a day in Hell, and you’ve spent a day in Heaven,” said St. Peter when they met again, “Now you must choose your eternity.”

The woman paused, and then replied, “Well, I never thought I’d say this. I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think I had a better time in Hell.”

So St. Peter escorted her back to the elevator, said so long, and she went back to Hell. This time when the doors of the elevator opened, the executive found herself standing in a desolate wasteland covered in garbage and filth. Her friends were there, but dressed in rags, and they were picking up garbage and putting it in sacks. The Devil came up to her and put his arm around her.

“I don’t understand,” stammered the woman, “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a country club, and we ate steak, and we danced and had a great time. Now there is a wasteland of garbage and all my friends look miserable.”

The Devil smiled. “Yesterday, we were recruiting you,” he said, “ Today you’re staff.”