A Win-Win Situation, Overheard on the Subway

Riding the subway during busy times is sometimes nearly silent, and sometimes full of conversations that you can't help but overhear.

Yesterday, I heard a man tell a friend that late last Friday afternoon he got a call that his parents were coming for a surprise visit. His home was a mess, and he had to work late. He called his once-a-month cleaning lady on a Friday night, wondering if she would take a last minute job at a time of day that she doesn't usually work. She agreed immediately. She took the bus across town and worked for a few hours. By the time he got home his place was spotless. As he paid her and gave her an extra tip, she held up the money and said, "This is Christmas for my children. Thank you."

The man on the subway didn't draw conclusions from his experience, but I was struck with how in that one transaction they both were provided with what they needed. He was thrilled that she would work on a Friday night with no advance warning right when he needed her. She was thrilled to have extra money for Christmas gifts.

I think that there are more opportunities than we realize to create win-win situations, but two factors come into play:

1. we must ask for what we need 
2. we must take the opportunities that come to us

Which part of that equation do you need to get better at doing?

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