When I am in New York City for business I may visit four or five customers a day. Each visit involves a taxi or subway ride, a walk, wafts of New York stench, one or more post-911 security desks, elevators and busy receptionists. I do this all in a wool suit in 85 degree weather while juggling my computer and gifts for the customer. A smile is the last thing on my mind when I finally arrive at the customer’s office. A couple of days ago when I came off the elevator at one of our customers I looked over to see a giant smile on the face of the receptionist. I was powerless. I had to smile. Smiles turned into pleasant World Cup talk while we waited for the customer. I was actually kind of sad to leave the receptionist for our meeting. I wonder why I do not use the power of a smile more often.
Keep Going, Man
I have been traveling to New York City a lot lately for business. The highlight of my trips is running in Central Park in the morning. This morning as I rounded a turn a hunched over, almost 80 year old gentleman going in the opposite direction looked up at me and said, “Keep going, man.” I thought how easy it is for me to keep going compared to him. As I continued to ponder the experience, I thought how much easier life would be if instead of grunting as I mounted the hills of life to show how hard I was trying that instead I focused on encouraging others. Perhaps that is the secret of how this man has kept going so long.
Thinking of You, Old Man
My fifteen year old encouraged me to purchase an android phone recently. My seven year old son (who has been asking for a cell phone for two years) asked if he could use my phone to download some games. I showed him how to download games and he disappeared for an hour with the phone. Later in the day he came to me and said, “I downloaded some old games so you could play them…like Pong.” While I would like to think that I can play games that are more complicated than Pong, it sure is nice when other people think of you.
Flexibility is a Virtue
I was kibitzing with an acquaintance about how some people are so rigid. He related the following story. He explained that he was divorced and that he had his two teenage sons every Saturday and Sunday morning. He was trying to plan something that would be fun them and purchased tickets for the recently released Batman at the IMAX theater for the 3pm matinée. Later he learned that he had actually purchased tickets to the 3am club showing. He figured why not go anyway. He obtained permission from his ex to have the boys Friday night which required confessing to his poor planning skills and paying an appropriate penance in reprimands from his ex. They could hardly sleep Friday night. Driving through the empty city to the theater was a thrill. It was a huge hit with the boys, so much so that next time a big movie comes out they are going to see the club showing. Why can’t we all be flexible, roll with the punches and enjoy life instead of fighting against it?
Wisdom from a New York City Taxi Driver
The other day I jumped in a New York City cab. I asked the driver if he was having a good day. The driver was from Africa and had a certain intensity about him. He said, “Every day is a good day when you wake up and you are alive.” Reading between the lines, I imagine there was a day in his life that he woke up to a loved one that was not alive. His simple testament puts all of our seemingly large problems in context.
