How to Drive to Amsterdam

A few months ago I had an early morning layover in the Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport and faced a dilemma that frustrates millions of travelers every single day:

Where can I get something decent to eat that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg?

If you’ve seen the food at airports, you know what I’m talking about.

· Shrink wrapped sandwiches you can’t even unravel.

· Salads that have been sitting there for days.

· And you want HOW MUCH for that bag of chips?

Luckily, I passed by the American themed “Silverscreen Bar”: an open grill restaurant that touted their breakfast sandwiches. It was close to my gate, and I decided to give them a try.

(Photo Courtesy of Trip Advisor)

To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. I watched as this one chef commanded the grill like it was an artform. She worked hard, handled an onslaught of incoming orders, and still managed to keep a smile for every employee that grabbed her attention.

When my breakfast sandwich arrived, I was even more shocked. The bread was fresh, the bacon was perfectly cooked, and the combination of spices made it GENUINELY one of the best breakfasts I’d had… airport or not… in a very long time.

I was blown away, and wanted to express my gratitude. Catching the attention of a hostess, I asked,

“Can you please tell the cook that this was the best breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had…. both in and out of an airport? Please tell her thank you for making my day better.”

She smiled, and immediately walked to the open kitchen. I stood back in the crowd not wanting to catch attention.

How would the chef react?

When the hostess shared my message, the chef’s eyes lit up, her smile widened, and her shoulders loosened as the stress of a busy morning lifted. Scanning the crowd for a responsive face, she looked for me, but how would she even know what I looked like? Shrugging with a smile on her face, she returned to the remaining orders with a lightness and energy that made her stand a few inches taller.

She felt appreciated. And I watched as she put even more love into the food for her customers.

(Photo Courtesy of Trip Advisor)

What does this have to do with influence and success?

Any success you reach will come because of the help of others. Do you take the time to appreciate and recognize them?

As you’ve probably noticed in your own life, the ripple effects of simple moments of recognition can last decades.

When I was an 8 year old Cub Scout, I got to participate in the granddaddy of them all: “The Troop 398 Pinewood Car Derby”.

Here’s how it worked: each Cub Scout received a block of wood to carve/paint into a small car, and on a week night, we would meet and race the cars down a slanted track to see which was fastest.

To be honest, my Dad did most of the work in helping me carve, sand, and paint but I was sure proud of our little car. It was firetruck red, and had blue electric tape racing stripes.

You know, for extra speed.

Then the big night came. As we all walked in with our cars in all shapes and sizes, a table of trophies awaited us. To my 8 year old eyes, this was bigger than NASCAR.

At the end of the night, my “Red Menace” fared a respectable third place. But that standing remains officially in question as the judge (my friend’s dad) discovered an illegal substance (WD-40 oil) had improperly been used to lubricate the plastic wheels of the winning car.

Cub Scout cheating at its absolute worst.

A heated debate ensued, the rule books were brought out and questioned, but no disqualifications were officially issued. However, the 1992 Troop 398 Pinewood Derby results were forever tarnished by scandal… but for me, the highlight came when at the end of the night, I received a trophy for coming in third place.

I don’t know what parent took the extra time to go to our local trophy store to have these made, and I don’t know how much it cost, but this little trophy gave me a gift I couldn’t have understood at the time:

I felt recognized. I felt proud of myself.

And the little jolt of confidence into my 8 year old heart gave me the courage to try new things (in and out of school) that later changed my life. It gave me courage to try out for a school play. It nudged me to apply myself more in my studies. It gave me confidence to make new friends.

That trophy meant someone believed in me, and today I can clearly point to professional opportunities, and other successes that stem from the little burst of confidence I received all those years ago.

That’s the power of recognition.

· Can you remember a time when you felt recognized and appreciated? How has it affected your life?

· More importantly, who is someone… today… that deserves recognition? What simple way can you acknowledge their importance to you?

Even though that little car had no engine, was just made of wood, and its racing career began (and ended) in one single night, I can honestly say its given me more mileage than any other car I have ever driven.

That’s because you never know quite how far a kind word, a sincere note, or a genuine compliment may go.

And who knows?

Maybe it will take you all the way to Amsterdam, too.

Christian

CHRISTIAN HANSEN has gone behind the scenes in some of the biggest organizations in the world to find out the reasons why some people get chosen and why others don’t. As the #1 bestselling and LinkedIn Top Ten ranked author of “The Influence Mindset: The Art & Science of Getting People to Choose You” Christian helps teams and organizations who want to stand out and be the obvious choice. With degrees from Brigham Young University and The London School of Economics, he’s helped thousands of individuals position and sell themselves. A fan of international communication, history, and choral music, he currently lives in Utah with his wife. Reach him at: TheChristianHansen.com