Today, I watched a young woman perform an act of total selflessness.
As she exited Panera Bread behind her girlfriend, she held the door open. Sounds nice, right? No. This was more than just nice. ‘Why?’ you might ask. Nobody was behind her.
No.
This extraordinary young woman took it into her own hands to treat, with total generosity, a person she’d never seen before because he/she has never existed.
Here’s the thing—I do this regularly.
When I walk through a door, I always hold it open behind me and take a quick peek to see if there’s anybody that I should hold the door for. There’s usually not, but I, like this incredible young woman, always take it upon myself to ere on the benefit of the doubt.
This young woman didn’t care who was behind her, if anybody—she was just looking out for her fellow (wo)man, even if (s)he doesn’t exist.
Unfortunately, this is a dangerous game.
Say you hold the door behind you open 10 times, not knowing if there’s somebody behind you each of the 10 times.
5 times out of 10, you hold the door open for a kind and gracious stranger. 4 times out of 10, nobody’s there, so you keep walking.
What about that remaining 1 out of 10 times, Mr. Erickson?
1 out of 10 times, there is a stranger there, but that stranger happens to be a NEO-NAZI, and NOBODY wants you to hold the door for him (except the Neo-Nazi himself).
Oh, man! I had no idea! So, what should we do, Mr. Erickson?
Anytime you’re about to walk through a door, STOP. LOOK AROUND. Are there any Neo-Nazis around?
If you answered “yes,” don’t engage the Neo-Nazi, but certainly don’t feel obligated to inconvenience yourself by holding the door open for him.
If you answered “no,” feel free to walk through the door and hold it open behind you as you walk through.
Until next time,
Michael J. Erickson, CEO & Co-Founder
