The story below was sent to me by Evelyn H., who said I could share it.

The stories in your entries and the first chapter of your book remind me of a situation I witnessed while working in a large department store. 

Before the store opens, all major floor moves, decorations, and display changes are supposed to be accomplished.  That means that selling floor personnel, as well as designated assistants, come to work before store opening and work like crazy to get everything finished before the first customer arrives. 

As I was walking down the main aisle in the children's dept., I heard a manager about 100 feet ahead of me call out to those who were working very hard on a floor move. "You surely do have a mess there!  I don't see how you can possibly finish and get everything cleaned up before the store opens."  I watched the dejected employees shrug their shoulders and quietly keep on working, but with no enthusiasm. 

As that manager disappeared ahead of me and I approached the doorway, I heard a manager about 100 feet behind me call out to the same employees, "Wow!  Look at all that progress!  I'm sure you'll have this dept. looking great by the time the store opens."  Obviously, this manager had not heard the first manager's comments.  However, the hard-working employees did!  They smiled, held up their shoulders, and said, "We'll be finished in time!" They began to work even harder. 

Which manager would YOU rather work for?

By the way, the first manager mentioned is still with the company, but the
second manager has gone on to a greater job with greater opportunities.