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Misdirections
can be a blessing. If you start off by going the wrong
way and meet someone you have been looking for, you end up
happy about your mistake.
A contractor
I know was hired to pave a driveway in a neighborhood where
he'd never worked before. He paved the drive and then
knocked on the door to ask for payment. A woman he'd
never seen before came to the door, and after a few moments of
confusion the contractor realized he had paved the wrong
driveway. The woman said her driveway had needed paving
and offered to pay him something, but the contractor refused
any payment. He told her that he had misread the
mailbox, it was his error and that was that. He moved
his equipment next door and went to work on the correct
driveway.
What do you
think the neighbors thought when they heard about the
contractor who paved the wrong driveway and refused any
payment? Did they think he was inept? That they
wouldn't want someone who couldn't find the right address
working for them? |
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Prescriptions for Living.
Bernie S.
Siegel
A nice look at life from a formerly anal-retentive
doctor who shaved his head, changed his name from "Dr. Siegel" to Bernie,
and actually started caring for his patients. He learned more from the change
than they did. |
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| No,
the neighbors all talked about how nice he was and everyone in
the neighborhood who needed their driveway paved hired
him. He had more business because of his mistake and
kindness than from advertising.
Don't let
mistakes discourage you. A mistake is an opportunity to
show you have heart. Be willing to say you are
sorry. If you follow up your mistakes by doing the right
thing, without making excuses, you show everyone you care
about them and are responsible and trustworthy.
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