Don’t you just love it when you find people who do business with heart?

People like Antwon, C.H., Frances, Laurie and Tommie.  People like Mr Rich at The Siena Hotel and Reggie at The Marriott and Kermit at Wellspring Grocery.  And by others at Sun Trust and Harris Teeter.  And at Kidzu and the Chapel Hill Museum and all who were involved in Art from the Heart.   If you haven’t read their stories, please do by going to People Doing Business with Heart.

Today, I’d like to share one more story.   A very special one shared with me two years ago.  It was told at a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children and was told by the father of one of the students, named Sam.

Sam and I walked past a park where some boys were playing baseball.   Sam knew the boys and asked, “Do you think they’ll let me play?”

I knew that most of the boys wouldn’t want someone like Sam on their team, but it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging, so I asked one of the boys if Sam could play.

The boy looked around for guidance. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, “We’re losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.”

In the bottom of the eighth, Sam’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth, Sam put on a glove and played in the outfield.  No hits came his way, but he was ecstatic just to be on the field, grinning from ear to ear as he waved to me from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth, Sam’s team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Sam was scheduled to be next at bat.

Let Sam bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Sam was given the bat. He didn’t know how to hold it, much less connect with the ball.  As he stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Sam could hopefully make contact.

The first pitch came,  Sam swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher took a few more steps forward and tossed the ball softly.  Sam swung and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

Instead of making the throw to first for an easy out and an end to the game, the pitcher threw the ball high in the air, far beyond the reach of the first baseman.

“Sam, run to first! Run to first!”

Never in his life had Sam ever made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, “Run to second, run to second!”

By the time Sam rounded first base, the right fielder had the ball.  He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag,  but instead he threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman’s head.

Sam ran toward second base as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.  At second base, the opposing shortstop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, “Run to third!”

As he rounded third, the boys from both teams were screaming, “Sam, run home!”

He ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the “grand slam” and won the game for his team.

“That day,”  Sam’s father said softly to the audience, tears now rolling down his face, “the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world.”

The person who sent me this story, sent it with a note that read:

We all have thousands of opportunities every single day – so many seemingly trivial interactions between two people that present us with a choice. Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up that opportunity, and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

Aren’t we lucky that the people in all these stories – whether in the hotel or furniture or grocery or shipping or museum or banking business – or in the business of being a kid playing baseball — aren’t we lucky they made the choice they did  – to do business with heart?

They get the job done. They really care. They make you feel good. They warm your heart. They warm the world.

Will you will join me in thanking people around you who do business with heart?   With a quick note or Heart Card?  Or make it real easy and just forward this e-mail with a note that says, “I appreciate the way you do business with heart”.

It’s so important that we spread the word and spread appreciation for this.  Because the more people do business with heart….the more people will do business with heart. And as more people do business with heart…even more people will do business with heart.

Warming hearts.

Not just at Valentines – but throughout the year.

So very important now more than ever.

Jan is President of Business Class Inc. If you don’t yet subscribe to the “Business Class” E-zine…you are missing out on a tool that is highly praised by managers and business owners across the country. You’ve got nothing to lose and much to gain. Sign up here. It’s quick, easy & FREE!