I was waiting in line for a ride at the airport in Dubai.
When a cab pulled up, the first thing I noticed was that the taxi was polished
to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly
pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the
back passenger door for me.
When a cab pulled up, the first thing I noticed was that the taxi was polished
to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly
pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the
back passenger door for me.
He handed me a laminated card and said: ‘I’m Abdullahi, your
driver. While I’m loading your bags in the trunk I’d like you to read my
mission statement.’
driver. While I’m loading your bags in the trunk I’d like you to read my
mission statement.’
Taken aback, I read the card. It said: Abdullahis Mission
Statement:
Statement:
To get my customers to their destination in the quickest,
safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.
safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.
This blew me away. Especially when I noticed that the inside
of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!
of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!
As he slid behind the wheel, Abdullahi said, ‘Would you like
a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.’
a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.’
I said jokingly, ‘No, I’d prefer a soft drink.’
Abdullahi smiled and said, ‘No problem. I have a cooler up
front with regular and Diet Coke, Lassi (savoury drink), water and orange
juice.’
front with regular and Diet Coke, Lassi (savoury drink), water and orange
juice.’
Almost stuttering, I said, ‘I’ll take a Lassi.’
Handing me my drink, Abdullahi said, ‘If you’d like
something to read, I have The Star and Sun Times today.’
something to read, I have The Star and Sun Times today.’
As we were pulling away, Abdullahi handed me another
laminated card, ‘These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you’d
like to listen to the radio.’
laminated card, ‘These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you’d
like to listen to the radio.’
And as if that weren’t enough, Abdullahi told me that he had
the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for me.
the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for me.
Then he advised me of the best route to my destination for
that time of day. He also let me know
that he’d be happy to chat and tell me about some of the sights or, if I preferred,
to leave me with my own thoughts.
that time of day. He also let me know
that he’d be happy to chat and tell me about some of the sights or, if I preferred,
to leave me with my own thoughts.
‘Tell me, Abdullahi ,’ I was amazed and asked him, ‘have you
always served customers like this?’
always served customers like this?’
Abdullahi smiled into the rear view mirror. “No, not
always. In fact, it’s only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most
of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do.
always. In fact, it’s only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most
of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do.
Then I heard about POWER OF CHOICE one day.”
The Power of choice is that you can be a duck or an eagle.
‘If you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day,
you’ll rarely disappoint yourself. Stop complaining!’
you’ll rarely disappoint yourself. Stop complaining!’
‘Don’t be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain.
Eagles soar above the crowd.’
Eagles soar above the crowd.’
‘That hit me. really hard’ said Abdullahi.
‘It is about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I
decided to change my attitude and become an eagle.
decided to change my attitude and become an eagle.
I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers.The cabs
were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy.
were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy.
So I decided to make some changes, slowly … a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did
more.’
more.’
‘I take it that it has paid off for you,’ I said.
‘It sure has,’ Abdullahi replied. ‘My first year as an eagle, I doubled my
income from the previous year. This
year I’ll probably quadruple it. My
customers call me for appointments
income from the previous year. This
year I’ll probably quadruple it. My
customers call me for appointments
on my cell phone or leave a message on it.’
Abdullahi made a different choice. He decided to stop
quacking like a duck and start soaring like an eagle.
quacking like a duck and start soaring like an eagle.
Start becoming an eagle today … one small step every
week..next week… And next…And….
week..next week… And next…And….
Thought for today……
“You don’t die if you fall in water, you die only if
you don’t swim. That’s the Real Meaning of Life.
you don’t swim. That’s the Real Meaning of Life.
Improve yourself and your skills in a different way.
