Recently our family took a trip out to sunny California for a much-needed vacation. We visited the Magic Kingdom. It really is magical; even though I’m like forty-something, I still love those rides.

As we were getting close to the park, I heard one of my kids say, “I wonder what Dad’s gonna pull off this time. Last time he scored us some fast passes when they were all out.”

Talk about pressure. After all, what’s so bad about waiting in line for a few minutes?

After a day at Disney, we hopped over to California Adventure to check out Radiator Springs Racers.  But when we got there, the wait in line was 90 minutes long.  Are you kidding me? Holy DMV! Who waits in line for 90 minutes for a four-minute ride? Everyone, apparently.

Needless to say, we hit the road looking for shorter lines and had great success. But deep down we all wanted to ride those shiny red, blue, and yellow cars together. Only now the information desk displayed a 120-minute wait and no fast passes.

As my family walked past, I secretly walked over to the desk and said, “It would be so magical if you could find a few more fast passes for the Racers.”

The girl smiled and said, “I wish we could, but we are completely out. Your best chance for fast passes on that ride would be at the ride entrance.” So I told my family to go ahead to the next adventure and I would catch up.

I bee-lined it over to the Racers line once again with complete confidence that the gate keeper could spare a few fast passes. I walked up to the girl with the biggest smile and asked if she would spare some fast passes for my family. She kept smiling and said, “I’m sorry, we’re all out. I wish I could say yes, but no.”

Based on the crazy-long line, I believed her and started to walk away. But after a few steps I turned around and, said, “Will you tell me who could say yes?” Then that big smile came back on her face and she said, “The guest service desk near the front entrance.”

Some time had gone by since I had ditched my family, so I ran all the way back to the entrance area. When I got there, my face must have looked pretty flushed. The nice lady at the desk took one look at me and said, “Whatever it is, I can make it better.”

While catching my breath, I whispered, “Racers.”

“I’ll be right back,” she said.

Moments later she returned and handed me enough passes for the whole family.

The Racer ride really was incredible. Here’s a video of it (not mine; just one from YouTube).

Here are some clues to think about.

How many times did I go for no? Three.

Then I practiced something I learned from my friend Don Ward: Never take no from someone who doesn’t have the power to say yes.

When you’re not seeing eye to eye with someone, or if you see someone handle a situation in a way that you never would think to handle it, you might find yourself wondering, What is their problem? If you’re sincerely asking yourself that question, you are on the right track.

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What Were You Thinking?

Last week after a business meeting I hopped into my car to head to my next appointment. The phone rang. It was my wife. She told me that our 16-year-old son had just been in a car accident. I quickly asked, “Is he OK?” She said yes. I asked, “Was anyone hurt?” She said no.

After a sigh of relief, I asked what most any insurance premium-paying father would ask: “How bad is it?” She said he had hit the curb so hard that the rear wheel came completely off.

Well, I’m no Sherlock Holmes, but (more…)