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Monday, February 25, 2008 Two FriendsJoe found Manny Deitz the next day and returned his raincoat and umbrella. He treated him to lunch to express his appreciation.At lunch Manny told him a story.In World War II, Manny was a fighter pilot for the American Air Force. During a dogfight off the coast of Italy, he shot down an Italian plane whose pilot managed to parachute out. Instead of flying off, which he probably should have done since he had a limited amount of fuel, Manny waited to make sure the pilot’s life vest was fully inflated and that he was okay.  Then he radioed for help for the downed pilot, and he circled around until it got there. When help finally reached the flyer, Manny made a low pass and gave him the thumbs-up sign, and the Italian returned it. As he flew off, Manny wagged his wings as if to say goodbye. We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. - Martin Luther King, Jr. When the war ended, Manny went back to Philadelphia. One day, a letter came from the Italian flyer, who had tracked Manny down from the number on the plane’s wings. The flyer asked if he could come see him, and Manny said yes.  When they finally met, the Italian said, “You know, you saved my life, and I feel as if I would like to stay connected to you. I’d like for us to work together. My family has a leather goods factory that makes shoes and purses. Would you be my partner? We could start a branch over in the States.” So ever since the war, this Italian and Manny have been co-owners of a successful manufacturing business in shoes and handbags made in Italy and marketed in Europe and the United States, and they’ve been the best of friends as well as business partners. You lift me, and I'll lift you, and we'll ascend together. - Anonymous Labels: Adapted from Synchronicity - The Inner Path to Leadership by Joseph Jaworski |
