September 2006

Anybody Need a Ride?                                                    September 2006

This summer I had the opportunity to speak on a cruise ship. This was my first cruise, and I had a great time with my client. In addition to the work, I had the opportunity to enjoy some rest and relaxation with my wife before we got off the ship. Although I enjoyed the cruise, my aggressive personality was ready to get off the boat after five days at sea.

Since this was our first cruise, we had no idea what time we’d actually get off the boat the morning we were scheduled to disembark, so we didn’t make arrangements for ground transportation to the airport. But since we were in New York, we felt certain there would be a line of yellow cabs stretched around the block ready to greet the thousands of people getting off the boat. We were wrong.

By the time we got from the ship to the cab station, several hundred people were waiting for a cab. There was no line of yellow cabs stretched around the corner. In fact, about every five minutes a single cab would pull up to load the next group in line. I quickly did the math, and realized it would take approximately three days to get a cab at that pace. My aggressive personality was looking for options. At that point, I didn’t care if someone had a motorcycle and sidecar. I wanted out of that terminal.

About that time, I heard a voice shout out, “Anybody need a ride?” I turned to see a tall man walking toward the line looking for two passengers headed to New York’s La Guardia airport. He had four passengers, and needed two more to fill his limousine parked across the street. This was not a difficult decision for me. He had a car. I needed a way out of this line. I was all over it. Here I was thinking I would be happy with a motorcycle and sidecar, and now we’re headed to a limousine! This was much better than the motorcycle and sidecar. We were wrong, again.

As the six of us approached the car across the street, I remembered thinking to myself two things. First, “Has this man spray painted the entire car?” And second, “How is he going to get the luggage of six people who just spent a week on a cruise ship into the trunk of this car?” I was never able to answer the first question, but the answer to the second question became clear as he removed a large rope from the trunk. That’s right. After stuffing the luggage into the trunk with the lid still open, he tied down our luggage with the giant rope. The Beverly Hillbillies had arrived in New York.

As we piled into the car one by one, we realized the inside of the car was no prize either. There was no air conditioning, and it smelled like dirty socks. I leaned forward and asked the driver if he’d ever lost any baggage from his trunk, and he replied with a smile, “Never. But then again, I’ve never tried this either!”

After what may have been the hottest and most embarrassing ride of my life, we arrived at the airport. Much to our delight we learned that none of our luggage was strewn along the highway. After unloading our bags (and taking a quick picture with our new friend Gabriel), we were headed home long before many of our fellow passengers who were still waiting in line at the ship’s terminal. On the flight home, I couldn’t help but reflect on the lessons I learned from Gabriel that day, including:

Do the best with what you have

There is no shortage of nice ground transportation in New York. A lesser man may have said, “There is no way I can drive this beat-up car around New York and make a living.” Gabriel did the best with what he had. Every day we have the opportunity to take chances and try new things, but we hold ourselves back because we think we can’t do it with what we have. “I’ve never been trained to do that job, so I would never be selected even if I applied.” Take what skills you have and do the best with what you have.

Go out and make it happen

There are over 12,000 yellow cabs in New York driving around hoping to find a passenger. You would think someone would send a few hundred to the cruise ship terminal for the bazillion people who were standing in line waiting to pay for a ride to the airport. Gabriel knew where the “demand” would be, and his experience told him there wouldn’t be much “supply”. He was determined to go find some new customers that day, and he went out and made it happen. Much of our success is determined by our willingness to stop sitting around and waiting for someone to bring us the next opportunity. Go out and make it happen.

Make it fun

Gabriel knew what he had to offer was transportation to the airport. He provided the same service as other drivers in the city, but his product was not as nice as others. He chose to make up for it by having fun with his passengers. It may not have been the nicest mode of ground transportation in New York, but it was certainly memorable! It’s amazing how often we’ll forgive mediocre food if we have a great waiter. Whether you offer the best service or not, make it fun for those who choose to be around you.

Enthusiastically, 

Clint Swindall - President & CEO

*Book Review

The Anger Trap: Free Yourself from the Frustrations that Sabotage Your Life, by Les Carter

Here's what I've been reading lately ...

Last month I recommended a book entitled From Success to Significance: When the Pursuit of Success Isn’t Enough. This month I would like to recommend a book that deals with an everyday challenge that can keep us all from finding significance --- anger. In the story I just shared regarding my adventures getting to the airport in New York, I could easily have been angered along the way (and probably was a few times). This month's book is entitled, The Anger Trap: Free Yourself from the Frustrations that Sabotage Your Life. In it, author Les Carter shares with readers his thoughts on overcoming unhealthy anger in order to enhance relationships. He writes about how we can adjust the way we think and communicate, and how we can ultimately adjust the way we behave.

I recognize that not all anger is bad. Sometimes anger can give us a feeling of control, which can inspire us to challenge inappropriate behavior. Many social injustices have been addressed because someone's anger provided the motivation to step up and take action. The anger that concerns me is the negative anger that keeps us from communicating with others in our professional and personal life. Quite often it's because we don't know how to deal with it. If we're breathing, we're dealing with anger. I think this book will help you deal with the patterns of frustration that may keep you from being an effective leader.

*Tell Me Somethin' Good!

about Overcoming Anger

*Quotes

Inspirational thoughts

“Physiologically, it simply doesn't matter whether your anger is justified or not. The body doesn't make moral judgments about feelings; it just responds."
- Doc Childre

"Sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel."
- Author Unknown“Anger ventilated often hurries toward forgiveness; and concealed often hardens into revenge."
- Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

*Question to Ponder

Some time to think

In the book review above, I wrote that not all anger is bad. I believe strongly that the motivation to "right a wrong" through our anger is a significant aspect of leadership. Used correctly, anger channeled in the right way can change the world.

Martin Luther King, Jr. changed the world forever when he took his anger and used it to address a huge social injustice. While we may not all be able to change the world for others, we can certainly change our world and those we deal with everyday.

*September Survey

Anger at Work and Home