What's Louder Than Words?

If you're wondering how to get the attention you need to achieve your goals, consider this deceptively simple story based on a fable by writer Paulo Coelho.
One year, an apple tree produced so many apples that its boughs no longer moved in the wind. The other trees were a little jealous, but masked their feelings by pretending to be concerned.
A neighboring tree asked, "How can you make a pleasing noise with your leaves or move gracefully in the wind so that everyone knows how accomplished you are?"
The apple tree replied, "I guess I'll have to rely on the quality of my fruit in order to get the attention I deserve."
Sometimes the best self-promotion has very little to do with your "self" and more to do with what you've done.

From: Leadership, October 2005, Page 24