Where to Now?

On one of my business trips to Philadelphia, I ended my consulting day early, so I ran out to the street and desperately began flagging a cab to catch an earlier flight back to Salt Lake City. None would stop; I wondered why. At which point I began repeating positive affirmations to myself. Just then, this "voice" from nowhere said, "Why are you mumblin' to yourself?" I turned to see a person sitting on a grate with steam floating all around him, like an apparition.

"Excuse me," I said, "Are you talking to me?" "Who else is standing there talking to the lamp post?" he replied. I chose not to reply, taking the high road. "I feel sorry for you," he said. "What?" I replied. "I feel sorry for you," he repeated. "You feel sorry for me?" I asked incredulously. "Yeah, I thought you were gonna get a heart attack, running up and down the street like a chicken with his head cut off!"

"We obviously operate on different time frames," I stated. "No we don't," he stated, "I don't have one!" And he fell out laughing. I asked myself, "Is this a cruel joke? Why me? A street person philosopher. That's all I need." By this time, people were passing by observing our conversation--a high level executive and a street person in consultation!

Then he said, "If you want a cab, I can get one for you." "Sure," I thought to myself, "A three-piece suit and a homeless philosopher." Just then a cab rounded the corner and stopped in front of us. The driver said, "Where to, sir?" I quickly said, "Airport and hurry!" "I was speaking to the other gentleman," the cab driver replied. Then the homeless philosopher told the cab driver, "He can have my cab." The cab driver said, "Are you sure?"

I humbly got into the cab with the prophet saying, "Slow down and smell the roses, I was once just like you! And by the way, you'll make your flight." I did and was upgraded to first-class! (True story)

Conclusion: Don't judge people by their appearance or the quality of their clothes. The quality of a person is deep beneath their skin.