The Potentate's Column

Ducks Quack – Eagles Soar!

Kind of an odd title, don’t you think? Well, let me tell you about that title. I recently read about a cab driver, a very successful cab driver, who spent the first five years of his cab-driving career like most cab drivers you and I have met. He wasn’t happy with his job, and it showed. Not only was it evident in his attitude when he picked up a paying customer, but it was apparent in the unkempt appearance of his cab and his person. One day he heard a personal
growth guru on the radio. His message was one that hit the cab driver right between the eyes. This guru said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you’ll rarely disappoint yourself. He said,“Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don’t be a duck, be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles
soar above the crowd.”

Our cab driver friend did a little selfinventory, and decided to change his attitude and become an eagle. He had spent the last five years quacking and complaining. He looked around at his competition, and like him, their cabs were dirty, their personal appearance leaving much to be desired, so he decided he would make a few changes. He kept his cab spotless, as well as his personal appearance. He offered top rate service, and extras his competition never dreamed of. Other cab drivers told him his ideas would never succeed. Soon, his business had doubled, then quadrupled, and people were seeking him out when they needed a cab. He rarely waited for a fare at a cab stand, as he had regular customers calling him when they Once again, a big thank you to all for supporting Paula and me over the last four years. Hang on, the fun’s just starting! were in need of a cab. In short, he found a way to succeed, rather than thinking about all of the reasons he should fail.

I know you’re thinking about now “What does this have to do with being a Shriner?” Well, Nobles, it has everything to do with being a Shriner. If we are serious about growing our fraternity, about membership, about our Shrine Center, we’ve got to stop quacking and start soaring, be eagles, not ducks. We’ve got to take that Moslah “can do” attitude a step further. Let’s differentiate ourselves from the rest of the crowd. Let’s learn to look at the one way to make something work, not list the fifty reasons it won’t. We must find a way to succeed, to grow our membership, not look at all the reasons we can’t. With this in mind, let’s get behind our
membership team and find a way to make their programs bring members to our Shrine Center. We already do this with our Hospital Fund Drive events, they are successful year after year, because we all think that they will be. We soar with our Hospital Fund Drive events, instead of quacking about how they can’t work. Please, put the same thought and effort into membership. Let’s soar, not quack, be an eagle, not a duck!

Yours in the Faith,
Steve O'Neal

 

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