SAFETY SUCCESS… It Ain’t On The EDGE.

She was rich.

She was “important”.

She was wise…

And, she was without a driver.

Now, normally, for a rich, important person, finding a new chauffer would be as simple as a phone call the local “Rich, Important People Employment Agency”.? But this one happened to live at the very top of the highest peak in the land, only accessible to the rest of the country below by a beautiful, tight, twisty, narrow road carved into the very edge of the mountain centuries ago.

Thank God, she was also WISE.

And being wise, she decided to handle the hiring of a new driver herself.? She was prepared for the process to take as long as it took to find just the right person.? She also demanded to oversee the test drive herself.

Each applicant came forward in their best outfit (well, she WAS rich and “important”).? And, to a man, every one of their resumes were impeccable and impressive.?? After the initial introductions, she would pick a man out of the line, motion to the classic Bentley, and with a gracious nod of her rich, important head say to each, “Well, let’s see how good you really are.”

But it was what she leaned forward from the grand back seat and whispered that showed her wisdom… and their fit for the job.

“Let’s see just how close to the EDGE you can drive… and not get us killed.”

And as the? morning progressed into the afternoon, each highly-qualified, properly experienced, and rightly eager applicant proceeded, WITHOUT QUESTION, to show her – just that.

She never said a word (although inwardly, there were a few times when she broke out in fervent silent prayer… and a cold sweat).

At the end of each round-trip along that beautiful, tight, twisty, narrow road carved into the very edge of the mountain, she would give a gracious nod and polite “Thank you”, and point to the next man.

It wasn’t until the very last applicant of the first day shut her door and then climbed behind the wheel that her wisdom paid off.

She leaned forward.? She whispered that crazy directive “Let’s see just how close to the EDGE you can drive… and not get us killed”.? And for the first time that day, she saw – hesitation.

The man paused a good 30 seconds, took in a deep, slow breath, and with a slight shake of his head, slowly, carefully, put the Bentley into gear.? He NEEDED this job!? His family was counting on him to secure it… especially his treasured little girl, with the brunette curls and quick, sweet smile – and cancer.? And he heard the instructions LOUD AND CLEAR.

But unlike every other applicant, he drove that Bentley like it was his own.? And he carried that rich, important lady down that razor’s edge trail like she was his own precious daughter – down… and back again.

And she never said a word.

Well, he figured he’d definitely ruined his chance at this incredible, well-paying, FULL INSURANCE’d job.? But at least he’d done it honest (staying true to his convictions and what he KNEW was the right way to take care of someone in his charge – regardless of their pocketbook or status).

As he opened her door and took her hand to help her out, his heart was flat – but his mind at peace.? He knew he had blown it, and couldn’t even look her in the eye to face the bored disappointment he was sure was written all over her face.

And she didn’t say a word.? She just stood there, waiting for him to finally look up.

After almost a full minute, the peculiarity of the situation finally sunk in.? The man looked up to see if she’d turned to stone or something, and was met with a faint, honest... smile.

“Ma’am?”

“Well, can you start tomorrow?”

His jaw dropped.

“Ma’am??”

“Yes, we’ve established that fact.? Can you start tomorrow?”

“Well, uh… uhmm… well, YES MA’AM!? But I don’t understand.? I stayed away from the edge… the whole trip.”

And that rich, important, WISE woman - with that same warm, honest smile still on her face, replied, “Anyone comfortable with the EDGE, young man, is not committed to my success… or theirs.”

And what's THIS got to do with SAFETY???

ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.

-Chip Green-