If you haven't figured out by now, I tend to be barefoot.

This is not something I do just outside or at home...I consider myself a "barefooter", which essentially means I'm always barefoot everywhere I go...unless it would be considered disrespectful or cause someone stress (like the poor employee who is forced to address it with me by the manager)

Why I barefoot is a different story.

One of my favorite cafes in town, they know me as "Barefoot John"...and because John is a popular name, they also have tagged another man who comes in often as "British John"

One day the two John's met and became great friends.  Fairytale ending.

The other day my friend British John shared the following story with me and I had to share it here...enjoy!

The Man On The Couch

British John worked in sales in GE a few years ago.  Part of his job was to occasionally tag along with the big wig sales people to various negotiations.

This one time they had a meeting with a new company.  It was going to be a multi-million dollar deal, very quickly.  And could mean huge expansion and growth in the company globally.

John was with his senior sales guys in the conference room, when the team of decision makers arrived from the company.  This was their first time meeting these guys.

When the team arrived and came into the conference room, all were dressed to the teeth and carried themselves professionally...except for, of course the driver who was wearing jeans, t-shirt, messy hair, and sneakers.

The suits sat at the conference table, exchanging bs.  The driver nearly flung himself onto the couch in the corner, laying back, kicking his feat on the armrest and hands behind his head...he closed his eyes in contentment.

British John noticed no one asked the driver if he wanted some coffee, so he walked over and asked.  The man opened his eyes and kindly said "yes, thank you" and British John asked what he'd like in his coffee, the man told him and settled back in.

A long meeting commenced.

At the end of the meeting, the big wigs closed the suits, prompting them for a decision on the deal.

The suits looked at each other, at the big wigs and said, "It's not up to us, he's the owner" pointing at "the driver" on the couch.

The man on the couch didn't even open his eyes or sit up, just simply said, "we'll do it if I can have HIM running the show" at which point he sat up and pointed at British John.

This multi-millionaire, who was misjudged as the lowly driver, later went on to become good friends with British John and shared with him that his unbiased kindness shown, revealed to him John's character while the other big wigs only demonstrated greed.

What are your thoughts and comments on this story?  

Something that struck me in this is the place from which both methods were coming:

British John was just being genuine and kind, with no alternate agenda, he wasn't thinking "this could be the CEO so I better be nice to him and kiss his ass!"  He was just showing his honest character through genuine actions.

I say this, because I know people who are fake nice to others because they have the agenda that it might be someone who could benefit them.  

If the couch guy had been an ass to John, I know John, he would have called him out on that!  And that also would have impressed the CEO, because the point is, British John was being AUTHENTIC and honest.

The big wig sales guys were coming from a place of Agenda and Greed...so they ignored anyone who didn't fit their perception of who would benefit them.