I’m going to share a little story with you today and although it may come across as rather dorky or insignificant to some, it’s one that had a profound impact on my life and still affects me to this day. It went a little something like this:
About 10 years ago, as a junior in college attending West Virginia University, I took a little trip to Kroger, the town’s main grocery store. After having picked up my few items, I headed toward the cash registers and happened to bump into a friend I knew from church, Andrew Waldron. Andrew had just picked up his few items as well and was ready to be proceed to the registers as well. It was at this moment that we both were presented with an unusual choice.
You see, Kroger had implemented and installed some of the first self-checkout registers in the state. Although most grocery stores have this technology today, back then it was something completely brand new.
So as Andrew and I looked at the new technology, I decided to stick to what I knew and hurry through the line where I could deal with a live person. Not following my lead, Andrew went against the grain and decided to experiment with the new automated registers.
As I was being wrung up by the attendee, I noticed Andrew fooling with the automated machine. It appeared he was having a little trouble and before I knew it my stuff was in bags and I was ready to take off. As I was leaving, I waited a second for Andrew to complete his transaction and when he caught up to me I jokingly said, “Well it looks like that took you a while.”
It was the following statement by Andrew that gave me a slap to the side of the head. This is what he said:
“You may have been quicker, but at least I tried it, now I know it, and that’s all that matters.”
Upon hearing these words, I was struck to the core by the truth of this young man’s statement. I did the easy thing. I did what I knew. I did what I’d always done.
On the other hand, Andrew chose the road less traveled. He elected not to be a sheep but rather a Sheppard. He didn’t care about timing, efficiency, and all that other stuff. He saw something worth doing and he did it.
Now I know some of you may be thinking this is the dumbest story and subsequent epiphany you’ve ever heard. But if I may speak openly, it is often times by the simple moments and experiences that we are taught life’s greatest lessons.
That day with Andrew I learned the need to leave my comfort zone on a regular basis. And for me, this idea has lead to a tremendous life of experimentation. Whether it’s food, books, vacations, marketing ideas, etc; I attempt to see things beyond my little realm of understanding and learn as much as possible in the process. And do you know what? It’s a rewarding and exciting way to live. No doubt it has its ups and downs, but the successes completely outweigh the failures.
So dare to be unique. Take a different route to work tomorrow. Have dinner somewhere you never imagined you’d eat at this weekend. Attend a show that sounds completely ridiculous to you at this moment. Open yourself to a world of new possibilities.
And Andrew, even though you likely have no recollection of this event, thank you for the lesson, wherever your trails may have taken you.
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If your life is perfect, stick to it, there is no reason to change a thing.
If you are like the most of us, we are happy, but not completely happy, we want new experiences to seek out new horizons and actually see what is possible.
In that case getting out of your comfort zone once in a while is a great thing.
.-= Daniel M. Wood´s last blog ..How to Make a Killer Product Presentation That Will Earn You Sales =-.
That it is my friend!
they have these automated checkers in lowes in charleston now and they are saving as much as a half hour in a busy day for me now ….the best things we have to show for what modern man has produced are mostly the time saver inventons like the automated check out systems that people take for granted every day…i think also think that any grocery store is a cosmos of information about people: you are what you eat, and its very interesting to observe how differently people shop for their daily bread have a good day Marcus and another great article oh blog god…heh BLOG gOD