Seven of us crammed into our Ford Flex, driving 45 minutes to see the movie Wonder. We arrived almost an hour early, only to have the cashier inform us they had just two remaining seats. Noticeably bummed, I told the cashier how long we had just driven, asking “Is there anything you could do?” She summoned her manager, who with a push of a few buttons released the tickets for us (apparently many theaters hold seats for fire safety reasons).
A week later, I walked into the Lego Store, in an attempt to return two bags of gifts without a receipt. After being told it was store policy that a receipt was required, I produced a bank statement showing the amount and date of the purchase. After much pleading, the managers painstakingly searched the several hundred transactions made that day until they found my purchase and produced a refund.
Moments after, emboldened by this success, I entered the Apple Store with an iPhone that wouldn’t charge but without an appointment to the Genius Bar. An employee said they could help me… in 3.5 hours. Needing to get home to my family, I asked a few simple questions based on what I read online might be the issue. In five minutes that employee solved the problem (removing lint I couldn’t see in the port) and I was on my way.
What do these three stories have in common?
All are stories about persistence.
All involved interactions between strangers with competing agendas.
All demonstrate how people feel empowered to help when treated with respect.
Often when we think of stories about people getting stuff done or being persistent, they are tinged with fierceness or aggression.
To use a metaphor, we seem to favor the bulldozer over the gardener. The bulldozer runs over things with little concern for what “stands in his way.” Sure they get things done but destruction and resentment lay in its wake.
The gardener, on the other hands, creates fertile soil where all can take pride and ownership of what blossoms next.
I have been a bulldozer more than my fair share of times. But these three recent events were a reminder of how much better it feels to be a gardener.