THE EXPEDITION
During a recent expedition into the wildest part of darkest Africa, a group of explorers came upon a village of primitive savages. In attempt to make friends of this very, very tough audience watching the explorer's every move, the leader of the group tried to tell the natives what it was like in the civilized, outside world.
"Out there," he said, "we love our fellow men."
To this the natives gave a ringing cry of "Huzzanga!"
Encouraged by this, the explorer continued. "We treat others as we would want them to treat us."
"Huzzanga!" exclaimed the natives with much enthusiasm.
"We are peaceful!" said the explorer.
"Huzzanga!" cried the natives.
With a tear running down his cheek, the explorer ended his fine speech.
"We come to you as friends, as brothers. So trust us. Open your arms to us, your homes, your hearts. What do you say?"
The air shook with one mighty "Huzzanga!"
Greatly pleased by the reception, the leader of the explorers then began talking with the natives' chief.
"I see that you have bulls here," he said. "They are a species with which I am familiar. May I inspect them?"
"Certainly, certainly, come right this way," said the chief. "But be very careful as you walk that you don't step in the huzzanga!"
Flech nodded at the loud laughter and applause. When it had finally subsided he says, "Okay, enough of the huzzanga. Now let's zero in on some of the conditions that produce a tough audience and what we can do to make them pushovers."
- Og Mandino
The Spellbinder's Gift
Ballintine Books
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