Three Cheers for Someone Else by Zig Ziglar on Creators.com

Recently

The Hustler Several years ago, Paul Newman starred in a movie titled "The Hustler." It dealt with the game of pool, and a hustler was a guy who set someone up and then hustled or beat him out of his money. The connotation of a hustler was definitely …Read more. Efficiency Is Costly When I was a youngster in Yazoo City, Miss., twice each week — on Tuesday and Friday nights — I delivered the hometown newspaper. One night a week, I collected for the paper. The financial rewards were small but important. More important …Read more. A Rainy Day Story Today was "one of those days." I don't believe I've ever seen as much rain fall so hard or for so long as I did today. My wife and I were on our way to Tyler, Texas, to make a couple of purchases and, more importantly, to see Dr. John …Read more. Employer Opportunity "Morale is the state of mind. It is steadfastness and courage and hope. It is confidence and zeal and loyalty. It is elan, esprit de corps and determination." — George Catlett Marshall Employee turnover is expensive. One of the most …Read more.

Three Cheers for Someone Else

From Pulpit Helps, January 1992: "The church was grief-stricken last week to learn that one of the most valuable parish members, Someone Else, had passed away. This death created a vacancy that would be difficult to fill. Someone Else had been with the church for many years. During all these years, she did far more than a normal person's share of work. Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results. Whenever there was a job to do, a committee to chair or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone's list. "Let Someone Else do it." Someone Else was also among the largest givers of the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed that Someone Else would make up the difference.

"This beloved church member was a wonderful person, sometimes appearing super-human, but a person can do only so much. Everyone expected too much of Someone Else, depended on her too much. Now Someone Else is gone. Who will pitch in to do the things that Someone Else has done? If you are asked to serve on a committee, to assist a service organization, to help out or to donate to the church fund, it is hoped you won't reply, "Let Someone Else do it." Just who will pick up where Someone Else has left off?"

To this, I will add it's critical that you do pick up part of the slack, because over a long period of time I have discovered, and society in general has learned, that "someone else" is overcommitted and unable to perform all the functions that each one of us can do. Plus, if Someone Else does it, we are denied the privilege of service and the opportunity to grow. For example, here is an old story about four people named "Everybody," "Somebody," "Anybody" and "Nobody."

There was an important job to be done, and Everybody was asked to do it.

Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

A number of years ago I was on the "Tomorrow" show. For some strange reason, they wanted me to be in the studio at 6 p.m., though the telecast wasn't scheduled until 10 p.m. Needless to say, I arrived in plenty of time and was seated in the reception area, which adjoined the offices. I had been sitting and reading a few minutes when a lady came out, looked at the small kitchenette and said, "I am the only one who ever makes the coffee." Then, as she muttered under her breath, she made a fresh pot of coffee.

Five minutes later another lady stepped out, took one look at the kitchenette and said, "I am the only who ever cleans up anything around here," and she hastily, and poorly, did her own version of a cleanup job and made her departure.

Lo and behold a man followed the two ladies, took one look and said, "I'm the only one around here who ever puts anything away," and he proceeded to do his version of putting the coffee can, creamer and sweetener in their proper places.

Message: In many offices, homes and organizations around the country, everybody thinks nobody else does anything. In some cases, that is true. Overall, I believe most people want to do a good job, and going the extra mile enlarges their opportunity to rise and shine and move up the ladder more quickly.

Remember: You are somebody. Do your part with a smile, and nobody who is anybody can say anything but good things to everybody about you. Everybody will win as a result.

To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Subscribe to Zig Ziglar's free e-mail newsletter through info@zigziglar.com.