Horton Hatches the Egg - by Dr. Seuss

This is one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books. I’ve read this book to my children so often that I can almost recite it by heart. It is well known, but it isn’t the Horton bestseller - that would go to Horton Hears a Who (doesn’t hurt that that one became a TV special).

If you haven’t read Horton Hatches the Egg, a lazy bird (Mayzie) wants a break from tending to her egg, and asks Horton (an elephant) to egg sit. Assuming a short bird-break, the elephant promises to watch the egg. Without giving you the full story, Horton keeps his word.

Why am recommending a children’s book? Like many Dr. Seuss books, there is a grown-up message. Horton goes through many hardships, but keeps his word. In fact, the line that is oft-repeated in the book is:

“I meant what I what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful, one hundred percent.”

Having this mentality and behavior would serve all of us well - at work and at home.

My wife Lori and I liked this message so much that she painted Horton and that phrase in our daughter Kelsey’s room before she was born!