The Corporation and the Bag Lady
Here's some unexpected humility encountered whilst in the city last week. I was arriving at Global HQ for certainly one of the worlds largest companies, and was just signing in at the front desk. I was having my security photo taken for a pass when I heard next to me, a quiet but strong and enquiring voice coming from a diminutive figure at the desk next to me. As she spoke to the man behind the desk, this woman (I didn't know her name) looked up at me and said "hi", to which I of course replied "hi" back. Her circumstances were clearly unfortunate; she quite literally wore torn carrier bags for makeshift shoes, and had tied strips of frayed material securing her 'shoes' in place whilst wrapped around her legs. The rest of her clothing was in similar condition. Most will know the stereo type associated with this kind of hardship so I won't labour the point.
A very well spoken somewhat authoritarian voice gestured to the representative behind the desk as to how his day was going. The same question was echoed back; I was half expecting a string of abuse as it just seemed at the time a little insensitive, but actually a light hearted conversation was struck. All the more surprising to see this lady produce some very official looking documentation and ask to see the Chairman of the Board. I suppose it's not something you'd expect to see - which made it seem all the more strange when I learnt that this unsuspecting character was and is a shareholder of the company.
Fifty minutes later I left my meeting and headed for the exit. There in the lobby relaxing on the leather sofa with a coffee, reading The Economist was this woman, once, but no longer an employee but retaining a vested interest in the running of the company - and Suddenly this multinational corporation did indeed have a human face.
It felt refreshing and a little surreal to see this huge pillar of the corporate world interacting with this individual, not in terms of the charitable affiliations that I know it has in no small measure, but with this person in the lobby resting and sipping coffee from a china cup!
One of those moments that just puts a smile on your face :)
3 comments:
We all tend to go about our busy lives, paying little attention to those around us. Until something or someone is some what different. Maybe the person wearing outrageous clothes, or the person in the farrari, suited and booted, wearing expensive sun glasses with a smell to match. Or the person that we persieve as the tramp dressed in rags, carrying what belongings that they have in a plastic bag, also with a smell to match. Both these schemas grab our attention. Usually, in my opinion, because we are human we are attracted to the first, we want to be more like that type of person. However the latter 'type' if we can see beyond the exterier often underneath is a far more genuine and real identity. It is an amazing feeling to know that there are people out there that respect these people. To be humble with humility is a special quality, but to notice these rare qualities in someone else is truly a beautiful thing. I am assuming that in order to write about your experience means you are open minded and value the qualities of such people. So warming to know that people like you are out there.
What a lovely story, thanks for opening my eyes. I will definately try to see beyond a persons exterior in the future.
Mr Mydat, I have come across your website by chance and I have ended up spending a good part of this morning reading it! Inspiring and down to earth - I look forward to reading more, especially your blog pages. You seem like a man of character, charisma and integrity and I have a feeling we'll be hearing more of you in the future!
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