A rushed businessman plunked a dollar into the cup of a man selling pencils on the sidewalk. Half a block down the street, he turned around and made his way back to the beggar. “I’m sorry,” he said as he picked out his favorite color in a pencil. “In my haste I failed to make my purchase. After all, you are a businessman just like me. Your merchandise is fairly priced and of good quality. I trust you won’t be upset with my failure to pick out my purchase.” With that he smiled and quickly went on his way.
At lunch a few months later, a neatly dressed, handsome man approached the businessman’s table and introduced himself. “I’m sure you don’t remember me, and I don’t even know your name, but your face I will never forget. You are the man who inspired me to make something of myself. I was a street bum selling pencils until you gave me back my self-respect. Now I believe I am a businessman.”
In our rush, it’s easy to demean those who are coming up the ladder of success. How have you treated the waitress, the gardener, the delivery man, the plumber, and the beggar selling newspapers this week? Did you, with your words and actions, nurture a higher level of success for that person or confirm that they are destined to stay at the bottom?
“The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.” Benjamin Disraeli
What a great post, thank you, Dan! I’ve heard it said that you can judge a person’s true character by how to speak to their spouse/children, and how they speak to those serving them (i.e. restaurant server).
A couple of weeks ago, I took my family through McDonald’s and the guy at the first window was singing and having a great time. I could tell he wouldn’t stay at McDonald’s very long. As we drive away I told my wife, “That guy will probably own one of these in the not-too-distant future.”
Thanks for sharing that Kent! It just lifted my day reading how happy he was!
Love the perspective on this Dan!!!
My daughter Maggie started at McDonlad’s a few months ago. It has been a really great move for her to do as it has taught her so much in working with people, dealing with customers, etc. Fun to see her self confidence rise – plus they are a great company in training their staff. The owner remembers all the workers names even though he owns four McDonalds and some of the kids only work 1-2 shifts a week so he is not there each time they work. Maggie was blown away the other day he stopped to compliment her on how clean the lobby was every time she worked – she said, “mom he was just walking out and then stopped to talk to ME for a few minutes giving me compliments on things I didn’t think anyone would notice.” What an impression it made.
Jen,
Sounds like a great owner. What a thrill to see our kids developing valuable marketplace skills!
Jen, no doubt Maggie will do the same powerful thing for someone in the future. Awesome!
Kimanzi Constable started out working at a Burger King. He has booked over $100,000 in International Speaking opportunities this next year.
Jared, I just love Kimanzi’s attitude, spirit and mindset. He is real and authentic. I love to see how his life is being blessed! He is not afraid of hard work and has enough grit to outfit an army. He’s the real deal.
Even if I can’t do much else, I can SURE encourage others to strive to be there best. I love this post! It encourages me to be my best as well.