The Businesswoman
Elsa Douglas was a young and successful businesswoman who ran her own company and was respected and admired by all her employees. She had been raised single-handedly by her mother, a kind and loving woman who doted on Elsa and always supported her. When Elsa was young, her mother would tell her that she was destined for great things and now, no one was more proud of Elsa than Mrs. Douglas.
As Elsa's company grew bigger, she became busier; the more money she made, the more she wanted. She spent nights in her office, finalizing business deals and identifying new clients. Mrs. Douglas was concerned about Elsa's seemingly unending quest for more money.
"Come home, Elsa. I miss you," she said to her daughter on the phone one day.
"I can't, Mom. I have to go to Venice for a business meeting tomorrow. These new clients are going to bring in so much money!"
Mrs. Douglas sighed and said, "Don't chase after money so much, Elsa. There are more important things in life than money."
Elsa paid no heed to her mother's advice and went on the business trip anyway.
When Elsa returned after a few weeks and went to see her mother, she found out that Mrs. Douglas was very ill. Elsa's eyes filled with tears as she looked at her frail mother lying on the bed.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you, Mom!" Elsa cried. "I was so blinded by my desire for wealth that I forgot the most important person in my life—you." Elsa stayed by her mother's side after that and nursed her back to health.
What are two universal themes found in the passage?
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the ill effects of greed and the importance of family
the effects of success and the power of love
overcoming challenges and the quest for knowledge
kindness and the importance of hard work
the ill effects of greed and the importance of family
the effects of success and the power of love