A Look at Going the Extra Mile in Action

Going the extra mile is merely giving more than is expected of you.

People tend to divide themselves into two groups: those who give their all in everything they do and those who believe that they should only perform when they are paid to do so. Isn't it surprising that there are no truly successful people in any endeavor, who have adopted the latter attitude? I was having a conversation today with a very close friend on the subject of giving. She summed it up very well. With a closed fist, she pointed and said, "if your hands are closed to give, they can't at the same time be open to receive". Let's examine how simple but powerful this is. When your hand is opened to give, someone else is receiving. When someone else is giving to you, your hands must be opened to receive. The tight fisted person whose attitude concentrates on "me", "mine", "give me", "woe is me", may clutch his pennies and loose the opportunity to receive dollars. You can substitute "the hand" for anything (the heart, the mind, relationships, business and so on).

Lets look at an example of going the extra mile in action.

In 1982 Johnson and Johnson discovered some poison in some of it's Tylenol capsules in Chicago, although it cost the company over one hundred million dollars, the company refused to distribute the product although there was convincing evidence that the tampering had taken place only in a few stores in Chicago. They decided to go the extra mile by mounting a nationwide recall. After continual testing, and until the product was place in a triplesealed package, until the executives were sure that there would be no possible harm until one single customer, then and only then, did they release the product again to the market. As a result of them going the extra mile, to ensure customer safety,customers swarmed back and reportedly brought friends. Unfortunately sometime later, some traces of cyanide poisoning were found in the Tylenol capsules causing a woman's death in New York. Although it would cost the company another 100-150million, chairman James Burke said it was of no consolation to the life of the young lady who had died. It is this kind of commitment to excellence and the company going the extra mile then, that today has allowed Johnson and Johnson to use the slogan "Its the Family company". If they hadn't gone the extra mile they most likely wouldn't have recovered and might have been the failing company instead of the family company.

  Although in this particular example the company did not give the families 100million, they did give up 100 plus million in revenues and possible earnings to make sure that their customers were protected. In a company where "the bottom line" profit is paramount, putting the customer's safety first is over profits is a strong example of going the extra mile. I believe that it is through this process of giving back that has allowed the Johnson and Johnson Company to continue to thrive.

Here are a few questions that might help you with your self reflection? Think of your personal situation. Are you lacking in any areas? List those areas, think back to see, are your hands and hearts open to give and receive or are they clenched trying to hold on to whatever little you have?

In life, we own nothing, and we can take nothing with us, so we are merely conduits; things continually pass through our possession. When you have more, give more and go the extra mile because if you block this process you will only be able to hold on to what you have which will eventually wilt to nothing. May I suggest that instead of trying to give you try being a conduit, open your hands, give first so that your hands may be free to receive.

Look at your personal life, think about where your struggles are. Are you continually giving your best, or are you waiting for someone else's best before you give? Do you have the personal determination, drive and tenacity to go the extra mile? Are you willing to go the extra mile which really starts with one extra step?