At a time when few of us have a break in our schedule or the clarity of mind to do so, we should each take a moment every now and then to give thanks and words of appreciation to those who have contributed to our personal and career accomplishments.

In fact, when you look back over the years, you might be astonished at the number of people who have encouraged and supported you on your challenging journey to success.

Today’s Generational Gem is a true story that originated in 1967 and will hopefully be passed on for decades to come.

It’s the story of Captain J. Charlie Plumb who is a common man with an uncommon story. Raised in America’s heartland, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy and became a jet fighter pilot. After 75 combat missions over North Vietnam, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. He ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent the next six years in a Communist prison undergoing degradation, humiliation, brutality and torture.

Years later, Captain Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant in Kansas City. As they ate, Charlie couldn’t help but notice a man a few tables away that kept looking at him. Charlie realized that he didn’t know the man and was surprised when the stranger stood up and walked over to his table.

Upon arriving, he looked Charlie in the eyes and said, “You’re Captain Plumb, aren’t you?”

Charlie looked up and said, “Yes sir, I’m Captain Plumb.”

He said, “You flew jet fighters in Vietnam. You were on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down. You parachuted into enemy hands and spent six years as a prisoner of war.”

“Yes, how did you know?” asked Charlie.

“I packed your parachute,” the man replied.

Charlie was speechless. He staggered to his feet and held out a very grateful hand of thanks. This guy came up with just the proper words. He grabbed Charlie’s hand, he pumped Charlie’s arm and said, “I guess it worked.”

“Yes sir, indeed it did,” Charlie said, “and I must tell you I’ve said a lot of prayers of thanks for your nimble fingers, but I never thought I’d have the opportunity to express my gratitude in person.”

Today, at 67 years of age, Plumb is a professional speaker sharing his experiences with audiences in every industry. He often speaks of his realization that the anonymous sailors who packed the parachutes held the pilots’ lives in their hands, and yet the pilots never gave these sailors a second thought; never even said hello, let alone said thanks. He often wondered how many times he might have passed his benefactor on board the Kitty Hawk … he wondered how many times he might have seen him and not even said “Good morning,” “How are you,” or anything at all. After all, Charlie was a jet fighter pilot and the parachute packer was just a sailor. How many hours did he spend on that long wooden table in the bowels of that ship weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of those chutes? Charlie could have cared less … until one day his parachute came along and the sailor packed it for him.

We all have someone who provides what we need to make it through the day. Like Captain Plumb when he was shot down over enemy territory, we all need many different kinds of parachutes in dealing with our personal challenges. We need a physical parachute, a mental parachute, an emotional parachute, and a spiritual parachute. Different times, different situations, different challenges … sooner or later we all need each of those parachutes in order to achieve the success we seek.

Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.

As you go through the coming weeks, months, and years, recognize those people who packed, and continue to pack your parachutes. Remember to say thanks. More important, remember the lesson and the message. Remember to pass them along. And most important, don’t forget that you are needed to pack someone else’s parachute. Do a great job!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

It’s interesting to compare workplace environments. As a consultant, I’ve had the rare opportunity to visit hundreds of different organizations over the years. Although every location has its own personality, most workplaces fall into one of two categories: positive or negative. You can usually detect it when you walk through the door. There’s either a “can-do” or “can’t-do” attitude that prevails among the employees from top leadership to frontline employees.

You can feel it in the air.

You can hear it in conversations.

You can see it in facial expressions and body language.

You can measure it in productivity.

It can be observed in the way that problems are dealt with and challenges are faced.

Every day, for every employee, there are opportunities to grow, progress, and add value to the organization. The choice is ours. We develop the culture in which we will thrive or fall by the wayside as others prosper. Hopefully, leadership is active in creating the positive culture needed in today’s challenging, competitive, and ever-changing workplace. However, everyone must be involved in making it successful. Every employee must be tuned in to possibilities to grow, prosper, and maintain a thriving culture that will insure future success for everyone involved.

That much needed tuned-in attitude can be better understood through this age-old Generational Gem:

Years ago, an American shoe company sent two salesmen to the Australian outback. They wanted to find out whether there was a market for shoes among the Aborigines. After shedding their parachutes, both went to work evaluating potential market value in this thus far untapped territory.

Corporate headquarters soon received telegrams from both sales people. The first read: “Absolutely no potential here. The natives don’t wear shoes!”

The second telegram proclaimed: “Fantastic opportunity here! No competition and every native needs our product!”

The second sales person understood that a problem may be nothing more than an opportunity in disguise.

Which do you think will be more successful? Which of the two would you rather having working on your team?

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.