| Now and then, incidents occur that can make a | | | | cowered as he would glare them down, making them |
| difference in our lives if only we become aware of | | | | reluctant to speak. His wife sat quietly and didn't say a |
| them and not let them pass by, unheeded, thus missing | | | | word. |
| an opportunity for change and growth. Such a thing | | | | The man declined the offer. He insisted that he couldn't |
| happened to me many years ago. It made me | | | | afford the monthly payments because he was laid off. |
| re-evaluate my outlook on life and made me a more | | | | He finally admitted it was only temporary and he'd be |
| mature person. It is a learning experience that should | | | | back at work fairly soon as his employer, a furniture |
| be shared so as to help others. | | | | manufacturer, was closed due to their inability to |
| World War II had ended a few months past and I was | | | | deliver their products to the California market. He |
| living in Portland, Oregon, working for a small, regional | | | | explained that the freight trains couldn't get through the |
| magazine, writing and editing. I enjoyed it, but it barely | | | | snow-blocked mountain pass to complete the |
| afforded a living wage. Needing to supplement my | | | | deliveries. |
| income, I took a sales job with the Britannica | | | | It was an empty excuse. I even offered to post-date |
| Organization. They offered what was then called the | | | | the order until he was back at work, but he stuck with |
| Parent Student Home Program. Certain schools would | | | | "no" and I left. |
| supply the names and addresses of their students and | | | | At our next sales meeting, I expressed my frustration |
| you would call on those families to attempt to enroll | | | | at what had happened. My first call had been a man, |
| their children. It also included the sale of a set of the | | | | despite being unemployed, expressed a positive |
| Encyclopaedia Britannica Junior edition which had been | | | | outlook and enrolled his son anyway. The second man |
| created for school-age children. In return, the school | | | | was obviously the more affluent and had secure |
| would be given a free set for their library. It paid a fair | | | | employment, persisted with a negative attitude and |
| commission and I enjoyed doing it. | | | | refused the offer. It should have been the other way |
| I recall the hazy, lazy Saturday afternoon of my first | | | | around. |
| call. I approached a young couple who were sitting on | | | | The sales manager gave us a simple explanation. He |
| their front porch in one of those close-to-downtown | | | | said, "In life, it's never the things themselves that bother |
| neighborhoods. It was less than affluent. They were | | | | people, it's just their opinions of them." |
| friendly and shared my enthusiasm for the program, | | | | It means that responsibility starts and ends with the |
| which they agreed was tailor-made for their son. I was | | | | person who faces you in the mirror. Don't try to push |
| surprised when the man said, upon signing the contract, | | | | any failures on bad breaks, bad luck and/or outside |
| "I'm out of work. I don't have a job. As a matter of | | | | circumstances. |
| fact, I was fired. You know, they did me a favor | | | | How about those solid reasons you thought of when |
| because I hated that job, but I didn't have the guts to | | | | things didn't work as you had planned? They made |
| quit. Now, I'm going to get a job that I can enjoy doing | | | | sense at the time. But, in reality, they are excuses and |
| and, if your Company will take me on that basis, | | | | should be recognized as such. Benjamin Franklin said it |
| you've got a deal. And," he added, "I have excellent | | | | best, "A person who is good at an excuse is generally |
| credit." | | | | not good at anything else." |
| The Company approved the sale. | | | | The reason you are where you find yourself at this |
| My next call couldn't have been more different. It was | | | | stage in life is because you decided to be there. If you |
| in another neighborhood and in much larger and more | | | | want to change for the better, you can. Be honest |
| nicely furnished home. My presentation was met with | | | | with yourself. You must be willing to do whatever it |
| little enthusiasm. The head of the house was a glum, | | | | takes to achieve your goal. You can do it if you want |
| overweight man who had unshaven, puffy cheeks and | | | | it badly enough. |
| wore a woolen sweater. His two children seemed | | | | That's just the way things work. |