This beautiful story comes from Sherman Rogers' old book, "Foremen: Leaders
or Drivers?" In his true-life story, Rogers illustrates the importance of
effective relationships.

During his college years, Rogers spent a summer in an Idaho logging camp.
When the superintendent had to leave for a few days, he put Rogers in
charge.

"What if the men refuse to follow my orders?" Rogers asked. He thought of
Tony, an immigrant worker who grumbled and growled all day, giving the other
men a hard time.

"Fire them," the superintendent said. Then, as if reading Rogers' mind, he
added, "I suppose you think you are going to fire Tony if you get the
chance. I'd feel badly about that. I have been logging for 40 years. Tony is
the most reliable worker I've ever had. I know he is a grouch and that he
hates everybody and everything. But he comes in first and leaves last. There
has not been an accident for eight years on the hill where he works."

Rogers took over the next day. He went to Tony and spoke to him. "Tony, do
you know I'm in charge here today?" Tony grunted. "I was going to fire you
the first time we tangled, but I want you to know I'm not," he told Tony,
adding what the superintendent had said.

When he finished, Tony dropped the shovelful of sand he had held and tears
streamed down his face. "Why he no tell me dat eight years ago?"

That day Tony worked harder than ever before -- and he smiled! He later said
to Rogers, "I told Maria you first foreman in deese country who ever say,
'Good work, Tony,' and it make Maria feel like Christmas."

Rogers went back to school after that summer. Twelve years later he met Tony
again. He was superintendent for railroad construction for one of the
largest logging companies in the
West. Rogers asked him how he came to California and happened to have such
success.

Tony replied, "One minute, you change my whole life."

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"Don't pop someone else's bubble."
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