There’s Always Someone Watching

By Tony Miltenberger, Director of Leadership and Outreach for Life Success Seminars

Whenever I’m traveling, I people-watch. The airport is the best place to watch people in a unique atmosphere, often when they’re under pressure. I recently spent a week traveling and saw two scenarios that illustrated people at their worst and at their best.

The Worst
I was waiting for an early morning flight--6:15am early--and everyone had arrived at the gate one hour ahead of flight time. People were slowly moving around, coffee in-hand, waiting for the customer-service agent to announce that we could begin boarding.

I noticed that the agent couldn’t make the announcement because a tall, slim businessman stood directly in front of her. He was extremely upset, simultaneously yelling at his travel agent on his cell phone and at the customer-service representative. This man clearly had skills in the area of expressing his feelings!

The customer-service agent calmly told the man that the flight had no room for standby passengers. He continued to yell and demanded to speak to her manager. She told him, “My manager is on the other side of the airport.” The man went into a bigger rage about not being able to see the supervisor, and the agent calmly replied, “She won’t get here before the flight leaves.”

Meanwhile, the only thing on my mind is that this man is upsetting the only person who can get him on the flight! What was he thinking?

The Best
I love it when people have fun at work! During my trip, I was on a flight where the head flight attendant had a clear passion for his work. He was funny and engaging and still managed to do his job. My favorite part was his quick wit. When the plane hit serious turbulence, he remarked over the loudspeaker, “Whoever is shaking the plane, please stop.”

At the end of the flight, he actually received applause from all the passengers who were influenced by his passion and his attitude. What a great way to leave his mark on the world, by helping people have fun! I was inspired by his approach.

At the end of the week, all my travels were done and I reflected on the whole experience. Here’s what I came away with: People who love to laugh have fun and enjoy the everyday experiences of life.

Do yourself a favor: Take one day and commit to sharing the joy. See how you can change your little corner of the world. You might be amazed what a smile can do!