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My publisher told me that I should write a blog post asking you all to buy my new book which comes out on Tuesday, April 2nd. I’m not going to do that, as it goes against everything I hold dear, namely, that having an audience (you!) is a privilege, and I should never flat out “ask you to do something. So instead, I’m going to tell you a story, which is exactly the kind of story I talk about in said new book. If the story makes sense to you, and you want to read more stories like that, with the premise that they might help you live a better life and be more successful in all facets of it, then I encourage you to buy it. If not, thanks for reading this blog post, and for being a member of my audience. As I’ve said before, I never take you being here for granted. Ever.
This story was originally posted to my Facebook page on February 24th, 2013, by me, while I was sitting in the Dubai Airport waiting to board my flight. In under 24 hours, it received 1,200 “likes,” 122 “shares,” and 174 comments.
I’m writing this from Dubai International Airport. I got to the airport super-early tonight, so I could Duty-Free it up, as well as hang in the lounge for a bit and answer some emails before my flight. I walk up to the check-in counter, and find out that they only open three hours before the flight. I was here six hours before the flight. I go to immigration and hope that I can show my boarding pass on my phone as evidence that I’m a ticketed passenger, and there’s a guy in front of me doing the same thing.
Upon being told no, the guy in front of me freaks out, in typical “douchebag American” style. “I fly all the time, this has never happened before, don’t you know who I am,” etc., etc., He gets shot down and essentially told to go away and wait for three hours outside the entrance to the airport until the ticket counter opens.
The immigration officer looks at me and asks what I want. I say “I’m sorry, sir. I was going to ask the same question, as I also am here early, and have my ticket on my phone, but I understand that it’s not valid unless it’s printed. I’ll go wait in the front of the airport until the ticket window opens. Also, I don’t know the man in front of me, but please know that not all Americans are like that, most Americans have decency and respect and would never talk down to someone the way that man talked to you. I apologize on his behalf, and on behalf of America.”
As I start to walk away, he says to me with a smile, “sir, thank you. Go to the ticket purchasing counter at Aisle E and ask for Farid. He is my friend. You can email him your ticket and he’ll print it out for you, and then you can come right back, I’ll scan it, and you can go inside the airport where you can shop or wait in your airline lounge.”
Which is exactly what I did. So I’m sitting here in the airport lounge, drinking a lovely drink, eating some lovely food, after buying some duty free Tobelorone for my pregnant wife, and I guarantee you, douchebag guy is still sitting in front of the airport on his suitcase, and will be for another two hours.
Not for nothing, but this is EXACTLY the point I make in my new book, “Nice Companies Finish First.” BE NICE. DON’T BE A DOUCHE. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, AND CAN RADICALLY CHANGE YOUR LIFE, YOUR BUSINESS, AND YOUR WORLD FOR THE BETTER.
If you agree or disagree with my post above, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below, or via email, anytime. As always, my invites for coffee, a Skype call, or a slow-ass run in Central Park, or a park in your city if I happen to be traveling through it, are always open. Finally, if you’re in NYC on April 4th, email me and I’ll add you to the guest list for my book party until the list hits capacity. Thanks for reading.