Changing the World from One Compliment

A few days ago, I was in a taxi with a friend in New York. When we got out of the taxi, my friend said to the driver, “Thank you, the ride was very comfortable.” The driver was confused and thought that my friend did not intend to pay the taxi fare, and asked, “Are you a gangster?”

“No, sir,” my friend replied. “I’m not trying to mess with you. I admire you for staying calm in the chaotic traffic.”

“Thank you!” The driver said, driving away with a satisfied, knowing smile on his face.

“Why did you say that?” I asked, puzzled.

“I want to make New York more friendly,” he replied, “Only in this way can this city be saved.”

“How can you do it alone?”

“I’m just setting an example. I believe that a small compliment can make the driver happy all day. If he has 20 passengers today, he will be kind to these 20 passengers, and they will infect others around them with their positive attitude. In this way, my good intentions can indirectly convey to more than 1,000 people, not bad, right?”

“But how can you expect the taxi driver to do what you want?”

“I don’t expect him to,” my friend replied, “I know that this method cannot be achieved by asking for it, so I try to be kind to people and compliment them. Even if the success rate is only 30% a day, it can still have an impact on up to 3,000 people.”

“I admit that this theory is very appealing, but how much practical effect can it have?”

“Even if there is no effect, I have no loss! It only takes a few seconds to compliment the driver, and he will not receive less tip. If he is indifferent, it doesn’t matter. I can still compliment another taxi driver tomorrow!”

“I think you’re a bit naive.”

“From this, it can be seen that you are becoming more and more indifferent. I once surveyed the staff at the post office, and besides the low salary, the thing that made them most frustrated was the lack of recognition for their work.”

“But their service is really poor!”

“That’s because they feel that no one cares about the quality of their service. Why don’t we give them more encouragement?”

As we walked and talked, we passed a construction site where five workers were having lunch. My friend stopped and said, “This building is being built really well. Your job must be dangerous and difficult, right?” The group of workers looked at my friend with suspicion.

“When will the project be completed?” my friend continued to ask.

“In June,” one worker replied softly.

“Such excellent results, you must be very proud.”

After leaving the site, I said to him, “You can also be considered an endangered species.”

“Perhaps these people will work harder because of my words, isn’t this a good thing for everyone?”

“But what’s the use of just you alone? You’re just a commoner.”

“I always tell myself not to lose heart. Making this society more loving is not an easy task. I can influence one person, then another person, and so on.”

“The woman who just walked by was ordinary-looking, why did you smile at her?” I interrupted and asked.

“Yes, I know,” he replied, “If she were a teacher, I believe the students attending her class today would be very happy.”