Are you a DUCK, or an EAGLE??

If I'm not already an eagle, I certainly aspire to be one!
Read on to see what I mean, or head to Lauren's blog at Teacher Mom of 3 for the original post, and my inspiration. 

This story is too good to pass on.
If you've heard the story before, I'm sure you'll agree it is worth hearing again.
I think we all need a little encouragement as we head into staff meetings and professional development complete with the sounds of "quacking ducks" all around us.


Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.

I was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. 
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 Wally, your 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, Wally's Mission Statement:
To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, 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!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, "Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf."

I said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.'

Wally smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.'

Almost stuttering, I replied, 'I'll take a Diet Coke.'

Handing me my drink, Wally said, "If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today."

As we were pulling away, Wally 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."

And as if that weren't enough, Wally told me that he had 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.

'Tell me, Wally,' I asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?'

Wally 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. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had just written a book called You'll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself.


Dyer ended his talk by saying, 'Stop complaining! 
Differentiate yourself from your competition. 
Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. 

Ducks quack and complain, 

Eagles soar above the crowd.'

"That hit me right between the eyes," said Wally. "Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I 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. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more."

'I take it that has paid off for you,' I said.

"It sure has," Wally replied. "My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action."

Wally was phenomenal. 
He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab.

I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.


Encouraged and inspired?
Me, too.
Lauren also included this verse from the Bible, and I can't help but include it as well:
"Make no mistake about this---whatever you plant is what you'll harvest. We can't allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way. Certainly each of us will {reap a harvest of blessing} at the proper time, if we don't give up. Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers."  ---Galatians 7, 9-10, GW translation

Today is official Day 1 for me.
If you're not there already, you will be joining me soon;)
Break away from the ducks!
Enjoy your 'flight', my eagle-friends.

Good luck with all your back-to-school preparations (or first week with kids! some of you...), and have a fantastic year!