Life Lessons from a Taxi Driver

I'm in Philadelphia this week facilitating sessions at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and for CIGNA. On the taxi ride over to the university hospital this morning I had a most intriguing conversation with the driver.

The rumpled clothing, uncombed hair, and 3 day beard growth completely betrayed the insights he related as he drove. Here are a couple snapshots:

• "This (driving a taxi) can either be a job or a sentence. I can never out-drive this car. Too many guys drive themselves to the grave, working just a little bit longer for just a little bit more. For me, it's a job, not a sentence."


• "I drive until I make the amount we need. If I make that amount by 10:00am, I go home at ten. If I make it at 1:30pm, that's when I go home. We're not independently wealthy--we just don't need a lot."


• "I've driven in this city over 35 years. You're going to the university hospital? Do you know how wonderful that place is? Our town is filled with great hospitals. It's the best place to get sick. If you're dying and have only two words left, say 'Phila-delphia!'"

I work with professionals at all levels of organizations. In their heart of hearts, their current job is often more a sentence than a job. By saying it's a job, he's not saying he doesn't care. Let's face it--most of us have been in a taxi cab when you're not sure the taxi driver cares! :) This guy cared--it's just that he wasn't a slave to it.

Are you working a job or living out a sentence? It's a critical question to ask. How difficult is it to get out of bed in the morning to go to work? How much satisfaction do you get out of what you get paid to do? How aligned are your responsibilities and the gifts & passions you were created with? A job or a sentence.... which is it?

Would you be able to go home at 10:00am if you made your dime by then? That's a challenging question for me. As the owner of a young and growing company, saying "No" or "Wait until tomorrow" is certainly not something that comes easy--nor should it. Yet our culture is one of few that would take more money over more time off. What's up with that? How much is enough?

The third bullet point just made me smile--the pride he showed in his city. He knows this place... it's home. Hey, Philadelphia's a nice town but I'd take Chicago (my hometown) over Philly any day, but not this guy... because it's his home. His roots are deep here. In a world that is changing rapidly, filled with ambiguity, with players & rules seemingly changing all the time, my taxi driving friend reminds us of the value of putting those roots down deep.

I did my best to pour into the great people of the University of Pennsylvania Health System today. He was right about those people--they're among the best of any hospital in the nation.

Yet the best lessons of the day for me came from a 35 year veteran of the Philly streets who goes to sleep tonight content with little when most in this great city go to bed wanting more....

As I stepped out of the cab into a surprisingly warm December morning, I thanked my new mentor and said, "May you get your dime by ten today!"

And may you as well.

posted by Andy at 9:53 PM