Here is a wise old story about avoiding evil natured people in business and in life.

There is a strong lesson here.

Who do you know that is in your life that might be a scorpion?

The Scorpion and the Frog

This tale may have its roots in ancient African and/or European animal folk tales, but the first time I heard it I was a child and my father told it to me. The source of the story is not quite clear, but it’s been told and retold for centuries in books, journals, and business magazines across the globe to illustrate an important moral.

Here is my recollection and retelling of this wonderful story:

Once upon a time there was a Scorpion that wanted to cross a pond. The only problem was, since scorpions can’t swim, it needed help. Along came a nice frog, swimming along.

The scorpion said to the frog, “Hey, do you mind if I catch a ride on your back to that side of the pond over there, I can’t swim.” The frog said, “No. If I give you a ride on my back you will sting me, and then I’ll drown.”

The scorpion said, “That’s crazy. If I sting you we would BOTH drown. Why would I want to die? Do this for me and I will pay you back with my protection. We’ll be friends forever.”

The frog said, “That sounds good. OK. I’ll give you a ride. Hop on my back, let’s go.”

So the scorpion jumped on the frog’s back and started swimming. Then suddenly and without warning, the scorpion stung the frog right on the back.

The frog screamed in utter horror,” Why the hell did you just do that now we’re both going to drown!”

The scorpion smiled. “Because I am a scorpion. This is my nature.”

The point of this ancient and timeless fable is that scorpions will inevitably sting someone, even if it’s to their own detriment. Evil knows no logic and has no boundaries. That is the very nature of evil.

Think of all the people in your life. Who is like a scorpion?

They will always sting you behind your back; it is only a matter of time.