The Ripple Effect

It was one of those crazy, busy days, with projects piling up and paperwork scattered across my desk. I was tirelessly working on an endless travel itinerary from hell, my eyes bleary from staring at the computer screen for hours. Suddenly, someone quietly entered my line of sight at my desk.

She seemed a bit nervous as she stood there, holding a book in her hands, waiting for me to look up from my work. With a sigh, I finally tore myself away from my computer screen and glanced up. "Hi, what can I do for you?" I asked.

She introduced herself and apologized for the interruption. This was unfamiliar territory for her — she was on the 5th floor of the Chief Executive Suites, standing at the desk of the executive assistant to the CEO. I put on my "glad to meet you… though I'm really busy" smile and asked, "How can I assist you today?"

I noticed she was holding a book that I immediately recognized: “John Chambers and the Cisco Way: Navigating Through Volatility* by John K. Waters.

Sandy introduced herself as a member of the engineering organization. She then asked if I could arrange for John to autograph the book for her. She wanted to give this book to her father, who would soon be celebrating his 70th birthday.

Honestly, I was thinking, "Oh great, just one more thing to add to the pile of items I need John to sign, approve, or provide guidance on." I did not want to add yet another task to my already growing list.

Doing my best to hide my true feelings and be the example of someone who makes miracles happen every day, I simply replied, "Of course, no problem. However, it may take a few days before I can get that done."

She smiled with a sigh of relief. Now, John needs to have all the details about everything he approves and signs, as is appropriate. Therefore, I had to collect almost all the information about her father I deemed appropriate, including his name, to feel comfortable obtaining John's signature.

Once she passed the interrogation (literally), she handed the book over to me, indicating that she could wait since his birthday was not until next month.

I placed the book on the ever-growing stack of items for John to review. A week later, John happily autographed the book with a personal note. I quickly contacted Sandy to let her know it was done. Before I could start on my next action item for the day, she appeared in front of me with the biggest smile I had ever seen and graciously said, “Thank you for making this happen; my father will be so surprised!”

That is one item checked off my list—yay!

Several years passed, and one day, like any other day when I was knee-deep at work, she returned to my desk. This time, she did not seem nearly as anxious or nervous. I looked up, a bit surprised to see her again. All I could think was: Did she want another book signed, or was there something else she wanted me to help her with?

She smiled and said, "I hope you remember me. My name is Sandy, and I came by a few years ago to ask if you would have John sign a book for my father's 70th birthday."

"Of course I do," I replied sheepishly, although it took me a moment to recall our interaction from those years ago.

She shared with me that she felt compelled to see me to express how special it was for me to take the time to have John autograph the book for her father. That book brought immense joy to her father on his birthday, and it had a positive impact on the entire family. She also mentioned that her father had recently passed away, but the book remained by his bedside until the end.

I was moved by her story and by the fact that she wanted to come and thank me in person. We hugged, and as she walked away, I returned to my desk. Surrounded by my to-do list, paperwork, and the chaos of my day, I realized that the one simple act of getting that book signed—something I had initially grumbled about—had not only made Sandy and her father happy but had also profoundly impacted their entire family.

One act of kindness towards one person created happiness, leading to a ripple effect that positively influenced others. This is a lesson I strive to live by from that moment on.