This commercial from Liberty Mutual has a simple message, pay it forward. Do the little things, like hold a door open, or say thank you, etc and you will be rewarded. I’d like to believe that is true. I love the message of this ad.
What’s the point? I have a pay it forward story that I’d like to share.
The other day I went to the mall to Best Buy. As I was walking in, I checked an email on my Blackberry and then entered the store. I shopped around a bit and left and drove home. When I got home I reached to take the case off my belt and my Blackberry was not in there. My heart sank. Oh no, where is my Blackberry? Like many others, I have an unhealthy relationship with my Blackberry. I use it extensively for work, and also use it as my phone. It contains several hundred personal and business contacts. I was in a panic.
I drove back to Best Buy, scoured the store, and asked if it was turned in, nothing. I went to the parking lot to re-trace my steps, nothing. At this point, the realization was setting in; I lost it and I have just created a major headache for myself. It was an awful feeling.
Depressed, I stopped to buy dinner. When I was leaving the restaurant, I noticed a check for $100 written to the local police department for their drug awareness program. I saw the check had a name and address, so I put it in my pocket and drove home to look this person up in the phone book and let them know.
When I pulled into the driveway, my wife was on the top step. She says, “You’re not going to believe this”. A young mother and her son were walking into Best Buy and the boy found my Blackberry. When they got home, they called my house to let me know. By that time, I had already left to return to Best Buy to look for it.
The young mother, her father and son drove the Blackberry to my house. I offered her a cash reward and she would not accept it. She said simply, “I know how panicked I’d be if I lost my cell phone.”
I was so relieved, and so grateful. I went inside and called the man whose check I had found in the parking lot. He was an older gentleman and he too was very very appreciative.
Pay it forward people, pay it forward.