Doug Cartland's Four-Minute Leadership Advisory
Doug Cartland, Inc.08/23/2011
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I arrived at my gate area at the Norfolk Airport last Thursday afternoon well enough ahead of my flight home. I noticed two guys on crutches, one with his right leg wrapped, but I didn't think much of it...

 

I changed from my business casual attire to jeans, a comfortable shirt and shoes. I munched on a candy bar, swigged water, checked phone, email and text messages...waited.

 

I boarded the plane, slung my stuff in the overhead bin and plunked myself down in 5B next to some faceless businessman who would be my armrest dueling enemy for this trip.

 

I settled in, read my book and off we went.

 

Almost two hours later we landed at O'Hare and, having the aisle seat, I got directly up, grabbed my bags and waited. There is one primary goal I have when I get on an airplane, and that is to get off.

 

As I stood waiting, trying to avoid elbows and swinging luggage, the flight attendant picked up the microphone to address us. Would two particular people be allowed by us to disembark first please? I sighed. I figured they were two people who needed head starts to their connecting gates or something. But we were already all standing in their way, we were hot and cramped, and why couldn't they have made the announcement before we all got up...and on it went in my mind.

 

And then the two stood with their crutches, one with his right leg wrapped.

 

The flight attendant continued, "These two men are soldiers back from serving overseas." Wounded soldiers in civilian clothes. Oh. I'm such a whiny idiot.

 

We all politely applauded as we squeezed back into our rows as they passed.  

 

It happened that I was the first one off the plane behind them. We turned one corner of the jet way and there standing against the wall were a dozen police officers, fire fighters, etc., the soldiers' internal brothers in arms there to salute their return.

 

I stayed a respectful distance behind and the other passengers behind me.

 

As I turned the next corner I stopped. Up ahead through the doors to the gate area were at least 100 people with banners, signs, wide eyes and expectant smiles. As the two limped toward the crowd, jubilation erupted all around. Boisterous, full-throated cheers, shouts, flashes from cameras, people jumping up and down-unadulterated glee in every corner.

 

I decided these men were going to have their moment uninterrupted by us. I stopped about fifty feet from the doors and simply watched. Hugs, kisses. Who knows who had waited for them and for how long they had waited: the relieved parents, brothers, sisters; best friends, loving wives or girlfriends; the proud extended families and neighbors? I felt tears and goose bumps swelling.    

 

After a minute or so, I looked at an officer. I didn't want to, but it was time to move. People had connections and others had to get home. He gave me a quick wave. I could tell he was adlibbing as he went. We slowly headed for the door. Just then the cop bailed on me. He was able to slip behind a roped off area and disappear into the crowd. Thanks a lot. I couldn't fit through there with my bags.

 

I had only one alternative...so I ducked and slinked my way through a small opening in the crowd. I was sheepishly and politely dodging camera flashes and happy people. The last thing they needed was another dopey traveler in their pictures, although in reality I'm not sure if they even noticed me.

 

When I came out the other side, I beheld about another 200 people in close proximity at other gates standing and applauding. Wow. I tear up writing this now. I don't even fully know why.

 

As I walked from the scene with my bags slung over my shoulders, trudging through another airport like I've trudged through so many, I found myself wishing two things for these young men:

 

First, that they would live great lives. And second, that at least one of them would become a great leader. They have a good start, yes?

 

I can hope.  

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Doug

 

Doug Cartland, President
Doug Cartland, Inc.

 

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