Two One Minute Training Programs
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As an engineering consultant, Paul travelled extensively for EDS Nuclear and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He received One Minute Training Programs from two women he never met before or after. They both taught him life lessons...
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| Newark Airport - 1975 |
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| EDS Nuclear always rented from Avis. So I get off the plane and walk to the Avis counter. I can see the folder with my name on it... |
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| ME: | "That''s me there" |
| SHE: | "Stop!" |
| ME: | So I stopped |
| SHE: | "Say 'Good Afternoon'" |
| ME: | "Good afternoon" |
| SHE: | "Now ask me what kind of day I've had" |
| ME: | "What kind of day have you had?" |
| SHE: | "Oh, it's frustrating. People look right through me. They don't even treat me like a human being." |
| ME: | "I'm sorry" |
| SHE: | "Thanks. It just kinda gets to me sometimes...Now how may I help you?" |
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| This happened more than 35 years ago. To this day I cannot go to Safeway without having a conversation with the checkout clerk, and bagger, and calling them by name. And I'm frustrated when I cannot see their name tag. Same at restaurants, airport counters, etc. She was only in her twenties but she taught this forty year old a valuable life lesson: We're all the same. Everyone has a story. And each one of us is special. |
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| Paris, France - 1980 |
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| My deputy arranged lodging in a private home for us to save money (LLNL per diem was not generous). I walked out on the street to go to the conference center and stopped a woman for directions. |
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| ME: | "Could you tell me where the Metro station is?" |
| SHE: | "Where do you want to go?" |
| ME: | "To the XYZ Conference Center" |
| SHE: | "Your Conference Center is on the circumferential road and so are we. You could take a bus around the circumferential directly there." |
| ME: | "Thank you. But I'm more comfortable with the Metro. Please tell me where a Metro station is" |
| SHE: | "It's such a pretty day. The ride on a bus would be much nicer than riding underground" |
| ME: | "Thank you. But I''d rather take the Metro. Please tell me where a station is " |
| SHE: | She looked me in the eye and said, "You know, we only pass this way but once..." |
| ME: | I took the bus... |
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This happened more than 30 years ago. Every day I try to remember we only pass this way but once...and act accordingly. I wish I could thank her...
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