Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently

by John C. Maxwell

Late one afternoon, one of these Rangers saw Rodriguez slipping across the border back into Mexico and trailed him at a discreet distance. He watched as the outlaw returned to his home village and mingled with the people in the square. When Rodriquez went into his favorite cantina to relax, the Ranger slipped in and managed to get the drop on him. With a pistol to the bank robber’s head, the lawman said, “Jorge Rodriguez, I know who you are. I’ve come to get back all the money that you have stolen from the banks in Texas. Unless you give it to me, I am going to blow your brains out.” Rodriguez could see the man’s badge and could discern his hostile intent. But there was a problem. He didn’t speak English. He began speaking rapidly in Spanish. But the Ranger couldn’t understand what he said, because he didn’t speak Spanish. Just then a young boy came up and said in English, “I can help. I speak English and Spanish. Do you want me to be your translator?” The Ranger nodded. The boy quickly explained everything the Ranger had said. Nervously, Rodriguez answered, “Tell the big Texas Ranger that I have not spent a cent of the money. If he will go to the town well, face north, and count down five stones, he will find a loose one there. Pull it out, and all the money is behind there. Please tell him quickly.” The boy looked back at the Ranger and said, “Señor, Jorge Rodriguez is a brave man. He says he is ready to die.”