This week, we celebrate Labor Day here in the states -- a holiday that honors the hard work and contribution of workers around the country. On Friday night, while Michael and I were driving to dinner, he shared a story from his past that gave me inspiration for this week's newsletter. It's the perfect Labor Day story. Here's what he told me . . .
Years ago, I had a friend named Frank who drove to Boston everyday for work. Each morning, as he traveled down the highway, he passed through a toll booth occupied by a man with a friendly smile, a big "Hello!" and an obvious commitment to doing a good job. Frank said, "This guy was so warm and friendly, it didn't take long for me to start looking for his booth just so I could see him and say hi. His great attitude and demeanor helped to start my day off on the right track."
After several months of passing through the booth and saying hello, Frank decided to stop and ask the man's name. "I'm Bill," he replied, "And, yours? Nice to put a name with your face. See you again soon and have a great day!" From that moment on, when Frank arrived at the tolls, he would drive through Bill's booth and shout "Hey Bill, how ya doin' today?" Both men exchanged pleasantries and Frank drove on. Two years passed and this morning ritual continued. Then, Frank had an idea.
One morning, after getting settled in his office, Frank sat down and wrote a formal letter of appreciation to the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, telling them about Bill and his great attitude. As he dropped the envelope into the mailbox, Frank felt good about taking the time to acknowledge Bill's kindness and professionalism. For the next two weeks, Frank drove to work as usual, saying hi to Bill as he passed through the tolls. Then, one day, he noticed Bill was gone.
Over the next couple of weeks Frank looked for Bill, but didn't see him anywhere. He started to worry. So, as he passed through one morning, he stopped to inquire about Bill's whereabouts. The man in the booth replied in a gruff voice, "Bill's not here anymore, he got promoted to the head office. Seems some guy wrote a letter to the Turnpike big wigs and they ended up giving him a manager's job. Lucky guy -- he's making five times what we make here at the tolls!"
Frank smiled as he drove away. While he would miss seeing Bill in the mornings, he felt good knowing that the time it took to acknowledge someone who clearly deserved it, made a difference.
This week, you can make a difference, too. Regardless of where you live, use Labor Day as the inspiration to say "Thank you," to someone who contributes to your life in a special way. And while you're at it, be sure to tell their boss how great they are, too :).
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