The "Stranger" That Changed Your Life
By Dan Robey
I have a saying that goes like this: "There are over 6 Billion
People on this planet and I can learn something new from
EVERY ONE OF THE THEM."
It is a true statement, you can learn something new from
everyone on the planet...but only if you put forth the effort.
I travel a lot, and I have made it a habit to try and get to know
the people I come in contact with, if only for a few minutes.
Remember, these people are all perfect strangers to me.
Here are some examples.
I fly to Charlotte a lot to oversee construction of a home in the
mountains. I take the same flight every time and rent a car
from the same company. When I get to the airport I check my
bags with the same baggage clerks and ask them how they
are doing. I look at their name tags and address them with
their first name, "You guys look busy today John."
It is amazing how just mentioning their name can bring a smile.
"John, how long have you worked here...what is the funniest thing
that ever happened to someone's luggage?" You would be surprised
at the incredible stories that people have about their jobs.
These stories are seldom heard, you see most people are in a hurry
and just want to check their bags and go.
You will hear them if you ask them to tell you their stories. Their
eyes will light up as they tell them, and they will smile and so
will you. Both of your days just got a little better.
I always leave a nice tip, most service people are underpaid and
overworked. When I get to Charlotte I take the same shuttle to
Dollar rental car.I hand the shuttle driver a $5 dollar bill as he
helps me with my bag.I notice that most people do not tip him at all.
I talk to the shuttle driver and find out that he is from Egypt, he
works 7 days a week until he has enough money and vacation time to go
back to Egypt and visit his family.
He has no days off, he has is a very hard life.
Had I never taken the time to talk with him I would never have
known about his life, I would have just handed him my bags and
gotten on and off the bus quietly like all the other people. But now,
I know his name, and each time I see him working the shuttle bus
route I always inquire as to when he will be heading back to Egypt
for a visit...that makes him happy...a perfect stranger cares about
his life.
When he drops me off at the rental counter I say hi to the agent of
the day.
I call her by her first name because I have taken the time to learn
their names
and more about their lives. I ask her how she is doing.
Do you get where I am going with this?
I make it a habit to get to know perfect strangers, I always greet
them with a smile and show sincere interest in "THEIR" life.
People love it when you inquire about their lives, it makes them
happy. Think about how many opportunities you have every day to
make people happy, to ask strangers about their lives, their
dreams. You will find that you will walk away feeling better about
yourself for making them happier.
Zig Ziglar has a great saying that goes like this"
"You can have everything you want in life if you will just help
enough other people get what they want."
Henry Ford once said, "If there is one secret of success,
it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view,
and see things from that person's angle, as well as from
your own."
That is a very powerful statement. Notice that he says
this is one "secret to success." Try to make it a habit
to listen to people very carefully and then put yourself in
their shoes. Try to imagine how they feel, what their needs
are, and then think of ways you can help them meet those
needs.
Make it a habit to greet people with a smile and show sincere
interest in their lives, call them by their first names, get to
know them, your life will be deeply enriched.
Oh by the way, I forgot to mention a few of the fringe benefits of
this habit.I always get upgraded to the nicer rental car, I get the
best service at the restaurants I go to, I am almost always met with
a smile and a "Hi Dan how are you doing?" You see, when you have
friends all over the world, your friends feel good about taking care
of you. This is just one of the fringe benefits you get when
you are kind to complete strangers and have a sincere interest in
their lives.
'최근에 가장 자주 빈번히만나는 다섯명의 친구를 소개해다오, 그러면당신ㅇ늬 월급 당신의 현재등을 모두 맞추어ㅗ 밝히겠다.'현재의나, 지금의 나됨됨이 그 이상을 마날기는 거우ㅢ 불가능하다. 비록 그렇다할지라도, 비록 현실이 그러하다할지라도 "그대는 그대의 생애 동안에 그대가 원하는 모든 것을 다 가질 수 있고 전부 다 이룰 수있다. 오직 한가지. 나아닌남이 그/그녀가 원하는 것을 가질 수있도록 충분히 도와주라. "헨리포드가 한 성골릐 비결은 나아닌남 타인의입장에서 타인의 입장을 견지하고, 타인의 관점에서 바라보는 자세를 자신의 눈으로 바라보는 것과 같은 자세에 있다고 한다.
잘못된 유교전통의 효도가 거짓된 자식, 위선의 자식을 무수히 생산했고 ㅈ디금도 생산하고 있다. 명절에 찾아가고, 선뭉드리거, 용돈드리고 업어주는 것등을 효도의 전부로 가르치고 전하고 말하고 있다. 그러나 이런 것은 진정한 부모님 공경 부모님을 기쁘고 즐겁고 행ㅂㅗㄱ하게 하는 게 아니다. 단지 부모님의 말이나 말씀이나, 충고나, 권면이너, 당신들위 하소연이ㅏ나, 부모님들의 불평에 열린 마음으로 충실하게 들어 주는 것이 진정한 부모섬김 부모공경이다. 다른 말로 표련하면 남 타인 나아닌 다른 사람의 말에 경청하고 열린 마음으로 대하는 것이 성공출세재벌의 처음과 ㄲ띁이다.