Knock My Socks Off

CHAPTER ONE

Our waitress writes her name UPSIDE DOWN on a paper tablecloth: V-A-N-E-S-S-A. She introduces her manager the same: M-A-T-T. She separates the two names with a squiggly line in another color. She uses a crayon. The kids are mesmerized. And hooked.

His name is Marcie, he’s from Poland, and he recites (apparently unrehearsed) his cruise line’s unofficial mantra: “Good is not good enough.” I don’t see a script anywhere or another crew member in sight. He must believe this stuff.

Sam wears the trademark black Apple logo T-shirt, jeans and sneakers. His massive collection of dreadlocks is not standard fare, but he’s perfectly comfortable among his peers and customers, many doing their own thing. He escorts me to the Genius Bar where a guy is wearing … what else? … a black T-shirt with “iPod Genius” shouted across his chest in two-inch white lettering. I don’t doubt this claim for a second.

There’s the businesswoman chipping golf balls – at a couple floating life preservers – to a cheering crowd at the kiddies’ pool on the cruise ship … for a dinky, forgettable prize. There’s my friend Jane who rents her two kissing Vietnamese (pet) pigs for fundraisers. And there’s the excellent Antonio who sings while booking my next blood donation.

There’s the islander from St. Maarten who easily sold my wife Ang an inexpensive handbag, which Ang preceded to fill en route to the cash register. There’s Ana, our Stateroom Steward, who over-stuffed a tall glass with chocolates and in the process stole my daughters’ hearts – and cost me an extra five percent in tip. We’ll visit a company who is tithing its profits (and watching their sales soar) and a friend who appears to be selling new Hondas. His true aim is luring adults to the mission fields of Mexico.

There are more. Tons. They’re everywhere, everyday. They’re The Remarkables. They’re young, they’re old, they’re short and tall, they’re brilliant and not, it doesn’t matter. What matters most is their desire to excel, whether they’re cleaning our cabin or sweeping our cars. Whether they know it or not, they’re all ricocheting off the (not so) “Random Act of Superior Performance” chart. Many are just doing their jobs, busting their tails for a decent tip to help pay the rent. These are the crème de la crème and there are lessons to learn from each.

This book is about … excellence. Sure. Contagiousness. You bet. Pure genius. Sometimes. Some of these lessons are of personal performance, others great feats from the business world. All are lessons for life. Most are positively spun, but a few blunders are sprinkled in for your amusement.

Steal these ideas to use as you wish. They are yours for the taking. Because ultimately these are their stories, not mine. I’ve been in the right place at the right time to capture them, but I’m only the messenger.

So come along, Fellow Explorer, on the road with remarkable people, places and things.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Good Think Days Ahead

Reggie, Lain and Me – v

The Gift of Passion – I 1

Intermission I – The Secrets of the Yellow Box – 45

The Gift of Passion II – 51

Intermission II – Standing Strong in Oklahoma City – 69

The Gift of Compassion – 72

The Gift of Imagination – 91

Blunders, Bungles & Fumbles – 138

The Gift of Insight – 163

Real Life – 200

An Excursion in Excellence – 240

Parting Shot – 291

For a more indepth preview, download 40 select pages from the book at GerryJustice.com