Monday, August 4, 2008

The Law of The Garbage Truck

A friend of mine, juz sent me an email about this wonderful story. Even though, I've heard it once, i've neglected it. But i think, it will be nice to share the story with others. It has a positive moral value to be implemented in our real life. Enjoy the story... \('_')/


THE LAW OF THE GARBAGE TRUCK

Beware of Garbage Trucks
(by David J. Pollay)

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood?

Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels.

However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly he/she can get back her focus on what's important.

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened.

I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly.

So, I said, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you.

When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did.

So this was it: The 'Law of the Garbage Truck.'

I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets?

It was that day I said, 'I'm not going to do it anymore.' I began to see garbage trucks.I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off.

And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting.

Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Teachers and parents know that they have to be fully present and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.

What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Here's my bet. You'll be happier.

So.. Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe that everything happens for a reason.

If you get a chance , TAKE IT! If it changes your life , LET IT! Nobody said it would be easy... They just promised it would be worth it!

3 comments:

Azri said...

Aku ingin berkongsi mengenai 90/10 Principle cetusan Steven Covey (penulis buku 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) yang hampir serupa dengan cerita 'The Law of Garbage Truck'.10 % adalah perkara yang di luar kawalan kita sementara 90 % adalah perkara yang berada dalam kawalan kita.Kejayaan/kegagalan atau keceriaan/kemuraman hidup kita bergantung pada bagaimana kita bertindak ke atas 90 % perkara tadi.Sebagai contoh,apabila kita membawa kereta,kita tidak dapat mengelak dari kecelekaan akibat salah orang lain,yang peratusannya adalah 10 %. Contoh 90 % principle pula,katakanlah pada suatu hari,kita sarapan pagi bersama adik kita yang berumur 10 tahun.Adik kita bersiap untuk ke sekolah dan kita bersiap untuk ke tempat kerja.Tiba-tiba,adik kita telah menumpahkan segelas susu ke atas paha kita.Habis baju & seluar kita.Kita menengking dan menempelak.Adik kita menangis.Kita tergesa-gesa menukar pakaian dalam perasaan yang marah.Bayangkan betapa stress keadaan kita untuk mengambil baju baru dan keadaan yang kita lambat ke tempat kerja.Adik kita pula terlepas bas ke sekolah.Terpaksa kita menghantar adik kita ke sekolah sambil kita masih marah-marah.Kita lewat ke tempat kerja.Dimarahi bos.Hari yang tidak menjadi dan mendukacitakan.TETAPI,cuba bayangkan kalau kita bersikap pemaaf kepada adik kita.Adik kita tidak terlepas bas sekolah.Kita tidak stress masa menyalin baju & dapat sampai ke tempat kerja.Hari yang ceria.Seakan-akan tiada apa yang buruk berlaku pagi tadi.Mulailah bertindak dengan cara positif dalam 90 % keadaan yang kita boleh tentukan penyudahnya,samada positif atau negatif.Sekadar perkongisan ilmu.

Anonymous said...

Wah2. Dh jd blogger professional rupanya. Dayang here. Nnt aku akan bc every now and then. And leave comment bila aku rjn. HEEEEEE...

FabuLous WinNeR said...

wah...tnx dayang. ala ckit2 je...br2 nk start. tnx for ur support. rndu bangat sama kamu. hehehe