Anecdote: Courage

To be courageous is to do something, even though you are afraid of it. When I was working with the Service Advisor at Rick Collins Toyota on a Saturday, I had to exhibit this trait. The Service Advisor was a girl, and I am not a large man, to say the least. However, we found ourselves dealing with a person that was not supposed to be in the Service Department. He was older and unkempt. We could not tell, as he had his back to us, but he seemed predatory as he paced back and forth through the department. Arriving at the realization that he was not the owner of any car that we were looking at today, we decided that someone must go and see what this gentlemen needed. We did the right thing, we called a man. However, the man in the Parts Department did not answer. So, the Service Advisor and I stood wearily at door. It was here that I came to an unfortunate realization, I am a man.

It became my job to muster up the courage to make sure this gentlemen got the attention he needed. I could have let her go talk to him, as it could be her job, but if he were crazy I couldn’t very well let her deal with him. So, I buffed out my chest and threw the door open and marched out to the Service Department, and gently said, “Can I help you today, Sir?”

He turned and had a friendly face. He said he was watching the cars and waiting for his van to finish. As it turns out, he was with one of the car owners. He had ridden with him and went to the Service Department while his companion spoke to us. In hindsight, it’s not the greatest showing of bravery or courage, but I didn’t know that.

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