Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work Read online

A Sign for Our Times

  Joan Wester Anderson

  171

  Sacred Stalls

  Marty Raphael

  174

  A Hug from a Teenage Boy

  Nancy Noel Marra

  178

  6. Creativity At Work

  The Adjustment

  G. Stillwagon, D.C., Ph.C

  182

  Doing Good and Doing Well

  Hanoch McCarty, Ed.D

  185

  Managing the Space Program

  Rushworth M. Kidder

  188

  Attention to Detail

  Bryan W. Mattimore

  192

  "Move Over!"

  Jeffrey Patnaude

  194

  Search for a Smile and Share It

  John Murphy

  197

  Getting the Garbage Out

  Paul Hawken

  200

  Time Out

  Martin Rutte

  202

  Poetic Vision

  John Lumsden

  204

  7. Overcoming Obstacles

  How to Get Their Attention

  Dr. Ann E. Weeks

  209

  Attitude Is Everything

  Francie Baltazar-Schwartz

  211

  Leading the Charge!

  Mike Wickett

  214

  The Phantom

  John Scherer

  216

  Staying Motivated

  Mike Stewart

  220

  We Will Survive

  Beverly Sills

  224

  Credit, Not Charity

  Mohammad Yunus

  226

  The Question

  Bob Moore

  229

  Tony Trivisonno's American Dream

  Frederick C. Crawford

  231

  The Great Dill Deal The Reverend

  Aaron Zerah

  235

  A Journey of Friendship

  Steven B. Wiley

  238

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  8. On Courage

  Billy

  Jeff McMullen

  242

  ''If I Were Really Important..."

  Susan Jeffers, Ph.D

  246

  That One Moment

  Chris Cavert

  248

  A Little Courage Goes a Long Way

  Sandra Crowe

  251

  It Takes Chutzpah!

  Jeff Hoye

  255

  A Captive Audience

  Neil Baiter

  257

  A True Leader

  Martin L. Johnson

  261

  The Scoutmaster and the Gunslinger

  John Scherer

  263

  Showdown at Pebble Beach

  Mark H. McCormack

  268

  Take a Stand

  Denis Waitley

  271

  9. Lessons & Insights

  Tile Blind Man

  Helice Bridges

  275

  How to Add by Subtracting

  Dave Thomas

  280

  The Uncommon Professional

  Kenneth L. Shipley

  283

  Stressbusters

  Tim Clauss

  286

  A Lesson in Leadership

  Michael Shandler, Ed.D

  291

  Mother Knows Best

  Nicholas Economou

  294

  Why Coaches Really Coach

  William T. Brooks

  297

  Let Your Light Shine

  Nido Qubein

  300

  Spiritual Unfoldment at the World Bank

  Richard Barrett

  303

  It Is Later Than You Think

  Frederic Loomis

  306

  How Much Is Enough?

  Anthony DeMello

  310

  More Chicken Soup?

  311

  Who Is Jack Canfield?

  312

  Who Is Mark Victor Hansen?

  313

  Who Is Maida Rogerson?

  314

  Who Is Martin Rutte?

  315

  Who Is Tim Clauss?

  316

  Contributors

  317

  Permissions (continued)

  326

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  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work has taken more than a year to write, compile and edit. It has been a true labor of cocreation for all of us. One of the greatest joys in creating this book has been working with people who gave this project not just their time and attention, but also their hearts and souls. We would like to thank the following people for their dedication and contributions, without which this book could not have been created:

  Our families, who have given us love and support throughout this project, and who have been chicken soup for our souls!

  Heather McNamara, for editing and preparing the final manuscript with such ease, grace and clarity. We deeply appreciate your patience, hard work and valuable suggestions. You are a joy to work with!

  Patty Aubery, for her encouragement and inspiration, especially during the stress of final editing.

  Nancy Mitchell for her persistence and fortitude in obtaining the permissions for all the stories in this book.

  Veronica Romero and Julie Knapp, for helping in Jack's office to make the day-to-day work run smoothly.

  Rosalie Miller, who nourished us with her food and love in the final weeks of preparing the manuscript.

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  Trudy Klefsted at Office Works, for her overnight typing in the final stages of preparing the manuscript.

  Sarah Ann Langston, who typed many of the stories under time pressure.

  Valerie Santagto, for her photographic creativity and professionalism.

  And our dear friend Douglas Blair for his love, encouragement and caring throughout our book-writing process.

  A special thank you to the story authors for your inspiring contributions to this book. We hope their inclusion will expand your careers and further your self-expression in the world.

  Our appreciation also to the hundreds of people who sent us stories, poems and quotes for possible inclusion in Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work. While we were not able to use everything that was sent in, we were deeply touched by your heartfelt intention to share yourselves and your stories with us and our readers.

  We're also grateful to many of the contributors to previous Chicken Soup for the Soul books for their love of this project and their continued willingness to share their stories.

  We also want to thank the people who read the first, very rough draft of over 160 stories, helped us make the final selections, and offered helpful comments on how to improve the book: Mavis Allred, Missy Alpern, Gina Armijo, Barbara Astrowsky, Shawn Berry, Douglas Blair, Rick Blake, Mike Blower, Leslie Boardman, Hal Bolton, Linda Bradley, Donna Burke, Mary Clark, Armond and Lorraine Clauss, Patricia Cole, Dr. Marlene M. Coleman, Amy Connolly, Sandford Daigle, Ron Delpier, Sander Feinberg, Susan and David Gardin, Fredelle Gudofsky, Douglas Hoover, Nick Kleto, Linda Masterson, Bob and Carolyn McClellan, Wally Michaels, Linda Naiman, Dave Potter, Ross Praskey, Amy Rogerson, John Scherer, Carol Schultz, Michael Shandler, Ellen Sloan, John St.

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  Augustine, Mary Tanton, Joan and Leith Thompson, and Roy Trueblood.

  And the people who helped us out with stories at the last minute: Thea Alexander, Richard Barrett, Ken Blanchard, Charles Bower, Don Brown, Stephanie Clarke, Paul and Layne Cutright, Stan Dale, Chris Douglas, Burt Dubin, Nicholas Economou, Warren Farrell, Ann Feyerherm, John E. Foley, Kay Gilley, Scott Gross, Jennifer Hawthorne, Ron Hulnick, Karen Jorgensen, Kimberly Kirberger, Janet Larson, Steven Lawson, Diane Loomans, Dorothy Marcic, Judy Meyering and Diane Montgomery at CareerTrack, Jonathon Moyners, Bryan Mu
rray, Richard Navarrette, Tim Piering, Morton Ritts, John Scherer, Ron Scoastico, Marci Shimoff, Frank Siccone, Robert Siccone, Sue Smink at the Pryor Report, Pat Sullivan, Grant Sylvester, Marta Vago, Jonathan Wygant and Elsie E Zala.

  Peter Vegso and Gary Seidler at Health Communications, Inc., for believing in this book from the moment it was proposed, and for getting it into the hands of millions of readers. Thank you, Peter and Gary!

  Christine Belleris, Matthew Diener and Mark Colucci, our editors at Health Communications, Inc., for their generous efforts in bringing this book to completion.

  Arielle Ford and Kim Weiss, our publicists, who continue to get the word out about the Chicken Soup series.

  Because of the enormity of this project, we may have left out the names of some people who helped us along the way. If so, we are sorryplease know that we really do appreciate each of you.

  And finally, we are truly grateful to the living Spirit that inspires us. Through its presence in our lives, this work became play and a direct expression of our souls' true purpose.

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  INTRODUCTION

  A successful businessman traveled to India to spend a month working in one of Mother Teresa's shelters. He longed to meet the tiny nun, but Mother Teresa was traveling, and it wasn't until the day before his departure that he received an audience. When he was finally in her presence, much to his surprise, he burst into tears. All the times when he'd been self-centered, busy or focused on his own gain flashed before his eyes, and he felt an enormous sadness that he had missed so many opportunities in his life to give of himself and his resources. Without a word, Mother Teresa walked over to where he was seated, put her hands on his shoulders and looked deeply into his eyes. "Don't you know," she said, "that God knows you are doing the best that you can."

  Work is an integral part of our lives, filled with a wide variety of experiences. In writing this book, we received stories from teachers and engineers, carpenters and accountants, artists, managers, housekeepers, chiropractorsand workers from many other professions. Reading these stories, we have been deeply touched by the enormous heart, soul and spirit that people express through their work. Day after day, we all get up every morning, in

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  many cases deal with a busy family, then go to work to spend 8, 10, even 12 hours making our contribution. This is commitment in action.

  Sweeping and profound changes are occurring every day in the workplace, but we still long for our basic human needs to be metmeaningful relationships, creative fulfillment, and the knowledge that our work is valued and valuable.

  There are definite signs that work is undergoing a renewal. This is reflected in our chapter headings, including The Power of Acknowledgment (Chapter 3)discovering the life-affirming, positive energy of recognition; Service: Setting New Standards (Chapter 4)exploring the richness of giving; and Follow Your Heart (Chapter 5)emphasizing the value of intuitive knowing.

  You can use these stories in many waysas a good read, as fuel for reflection, as a respite you seek when you're down or you're upbut above all, please share them with your friends and co-workers. Let the stories lead you to discussion and sharing. If you're inspired, share your inspiration; if you're amused, share your laughter; if your heart is touched, reach out to another.

  As we approach the new millennium, let's support each other in having the work we do be fulfilling, rewarding and a contribution to us all. As Thomas Aquinas said, "There is no joy in living without joy in work."

  Reading these stories will remind you again, as it has reminded us, that when everything else is scraped away, we are working soulsloving, growing, always evolving'doing the best that we can."

  There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good.

  Ecclesiastes 2:24

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  1

  LOVE AT WORK

  Work is love made visible.

  Kahlil Gibran

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  Jessie's Glove

  A kind and compassionate act is often its own reward.

  William J. Bennett

  I do a lot of management training each year for the Circle K Corporation, a national chain of convenience stores. Among the topics we address in our seminars is the retention of quality employeesa real challenge to managers when you consider the pay scale in the service industry. During these discussions, I ask the participants, "What has caused you to stay long enough to become a manager?" Some time back a new manager took the question and slowly, with her voice almost breaking, said, "It was a $19 baseball glove."

  Cynthia told the group that she originally took a Circle K clerk job as an interim position while she looked for something better. On her second or third day behind the counter, she received a phone call from her nine-year-old son, Jessie. He needed a baseball glove for Little League. She explained that as a single mother, money was very

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  tight, and her first check would have to go for paying bills. Perhaps she could buy his baseball glove with her second or third check.

  When Cynthia arrived for work the next morning, Patricia, the store manager, asked her to come to the small room in back of the store that served as an office. Cynthia wondered if she had done something wrong or left some part of her job incomplete from the day before. She was concerned and confused.

  Patricia handed her a box. "I overheard you talking to your son yesterday," she said, "and I know that it is hard to explain things to kids. This is a baseball glove for Jessie because he may not understand how important he is, even though you have to pay bills before you can buy gloves. You know we can't pay good people like you as much as we would like to; but we do care, and I want you to know you are important to us."