something that's been on my mind...
Remember Will Smith's Pursuit of Happyness? That movie taught me a very important thing -
Go back to how Will Smith in his pursuit of a job goes from organization to organization trying to sell his bone-density scanner. In a chance meeting with Dean Witter, he impresses Witter by his ability to solve a Rubik's Cube during a short cab ride, leading to a change of course and his becoming an intern stockbroker. Fighting against huge odds in his personal life, he struggles to learn this new discipline, and realizes that maximizing his client contacts and profits is the only way to earn the one position that he and 20 others are vying for. This is something Will has never done, but he works out many ways to make his phone calls. Eventually, of course his hard work pays off, he gets the post and the rest is history...
What struck me, and keeps coming back to my mind is his politeness - impeccable politeness, warm politeness, not something he is doing as an exercise, genuine politeness suppressing his own hurt and problems... He acknowledges every person, and expresses his gratitude for every little chance he gets. While talking to his prospective clients, he thanks them every single time without any bitterness or grudge, even though he knows they are either stalling, or rejecting his proposition.
Swallowing, swallowing, swallowing (sometimes writhing in hurt and the injustice of a situation)....but always maintaining a positive politeness.....
In the end, this politeness is what lingers as a perfume when one recalls the person....