Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar

Lauren sent this story to me in an e-mail. Keep in mind when you read it that God's truth can be found anywhere, including other religions and even in the "you can do it!" motivational genre. The trick is to find what is in agreement with Scripture and apply it within a Biblical context.

The moral of this story concerns the limitless number of possibilities that become achievable simply by deciding not to complain. If such potential can be reached through the power of the human will, how much more through the power of God?

Related to our topic this week of fellowship, how many relationships have we destroyed due to our complaining? Gossip and slander are motivated by self-righteous complaining, pointing out the faults in others and complaining why they are not acceptable. Look for bad in situations and people and you will find it. Likewise, look for good in situations and people and you will also find it.

There is profound truth in the office cliche "attitude determines altitude." Knowing how high God is and his promise to give you wings if you trust him, how high are you willing to go? Complain and you will never leave the ground.

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him." John Piper

Galatians 6:7-10 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar

No one can make you serve customers well. That's because great service is a choice. Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.

Mackay was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey 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 Harvey. 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, Harvey 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 Harvey away. Especially when he 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 ofcoffee? 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, Harvey said, “I'll take a Diet Coke.” Handing himhis drink, Wally said, “If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.”As they 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 Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature wascomfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.

“Tell me, Wally,” Harvey 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. He said, '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. Ilooked 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,” Harvey said. “It sure has,” Wally replied. “My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previousyear. 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 20 told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting. Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.