Orrin and fellow bloggers, Sorry about the weather in Ohio guys. Hang in there. Maybe this short story will warm a heart or two. I actually was off work today. On a weekend! It is currently sunny and about 65 degrees outside. (Sorry, couldn't help it :P ) I woke up early this morning, listened to Chris and Terri Brady on cd (again "Where do you come alive" or something like that), and headed for my favorite breakfast place about 20 miles away. When I arrived, I sat in the only empty both, back in the corner. My breakfast had just arrived at the table when an older gentleman walked in the door. I have seen him on many occasions but never spoke to him. We would do the old make eye contact, nod the head, eat our breakfast in silence routine. When he came in the door, I saw him look around at all the full tables, and a very sad look came across his face. I know how he feels. The food is really that good. As he was about to turn around and go back out the door, I waved my arms and got his attention. I was prepared to chase him into the parking lot if I had too. He walked over to the both and I invited him to join me for breakfast. He acted like he would decline, but at the last minute he slid into the chair across from me. We introduced ourselves. We engaged in some small talk. I found out his name was Pat. I told him my name was Ian. (Eye-an) Yep, we discussed why it was pronounced like that...etc...etc. I told him he could just call me Joe, like the cook of this place does, if it makes it any easier. (That is a running joke between me and the cook). At a certain point in our conversation, in mid sentence, Pat just quit talking. He seemed very frustrated all of a sudden. He finally looked at me and said..."I am recovering from a stroke. I have taught myself to walk again. But every now and then, while I am talking, a word will just hang up in my brain and it just won't come out of my mouth, so I just try not to talk to people." I thought of all the times I had seen Pat eating breakfast. He was always alone. I told Pat it was really no big deal to me. I knew what he was going to say anyway. Pat told me to prove it. So, I finished Pat's sentence for him. He told me I got pretty close. Then he wanted to know how I did it. I told Pat that for many years I had mastered the art of putting words in other people's mouths. I got so good at it that I really didn't even need to hear what they had to say. Now I am trying to change. I told him that I have been in a Leadership training program for a while. I told him I was really trying to focus on listening to other people when they talk, instead of just thinking about what I want to say next, like I have for most of my life. Pat indicated to me that he thought the subject of fine listening should be required in High School and College. We laughed about that for a bit. We talked for about 20 more minutes, until I really had to get home. I really enjoyed myself. I also noticed that Pat never had a word "hang up" during the rest of our conversation. I expressed to Pat that he was welcome at my breakfast table any time. Crowded or not. He told me the feeling was mutual. When I paid for my breakfast, I asked the waitress if I could buy Pat his breakfast as well. She quietly let me do it. Then she asked me what in the world we talked about. I said, "Oh, a little bit of everything." She said, "That is the longest conversation he has had with anyone in the past year since he had his stroke." I just told her that I really couldn't tell that Pat had a stroke. He was a great conversationalist. Fellow bloggers, you may be asking yourself, "What does this have to do with this article?" Or, "What does this have to do with Leadership?" Here is an answer for you... I don't know. I just felt like writing it. :P Maybe it has to do with the REAL ISSUE. How about changing our culture. Respecting our elders. Being a decent human being. 6+ months ago, I would have ignored this man and let him leave. I would not have invited a stranger to eat with me. I would never have had the conversation we did. I would never have shared this little story with you. None of you would ever have heard of me, or visa versa. I surely would not have been within a million miles of this Leadership blog. I guess the point is that I AM FOLLOWING. To the very best of my ability. I am following. Listening. Reading. Learning. Associating. Practicing. Preparing. Don't get me wrong. I am not patting myself on the back for doing something I should have been doing all along. What is the use of celebrating what should be common practice. I believe that is part of the problem with our mediocrity soaked culture. I will thank the Leaders and members of the Team, who have, and are following, a vision to make doing the next right thing as common as breakfast. If anyone out there actually gets anything out of this, that is just icing on the french toast. I know I got something out of writing it. I am proud to be a part of the Team. Ian from Texas