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The Four-Way Test Texas Style |
Exploring |
| A man that I respect in his
wisdom, Warren Buffet, once said: “You never know if a man is naked
until the tide goes out.” Rotary’s Four-Way Test is a means to find out
the merit of a man or woman through their behavior and successful deeds
in their community. One can hold this simple test up to all kind of
actions and experiences which reveals the worth of that person and those
around him or her. There are some key words in that test: Truth,
Goodwill and Friendship, Beneficial, Think, Say, Do and, most important,
Fair. As a Texan who was born in Pennsylvania, I went to memorable,
historic figures from my adopted state and a few others that Texans call
their own (although they come from other places) for issues related to
this Four-Way Test. As a fellow Rotarian remarked, “After reviewing
their words, I can only come to one conclusion: Texans are thinkers,
talkers and especially doers.” Also he came to this added conclusion:
“…the Four-Way Test should not be solely a measuring stick against which
proposed actions are measured. While it is certainly easy to be truthful
and fair when you do nothing, how can you build goodwill and better
friendship and be beneficial to all concerned when nothing is
accomplished.” Like “Service Above Self”, the Four-Way Test calls us to
action to improve our community. If you don’t remember another thing
about the Four-Way Test, you should take to heart the famous words of
that great American and Texan who served as Speaker of the United States
House of Representatives for sixteen years, longer than any other
person, Sam Rayborn, when he said: “Any jackass can kick down a barn,
but it takes a good carpenter to build one.” To move to the future,
Service Above Self must wed itself to Service Without Borders. That is
the next challenge and the Four-Way Test is a good tool for that
journey. Let’s take the Four-Way Test apart to key words and add the thoughts of special people: TRUTH Dizzy Dean and Oscar Wilde: “It ain’t braggin’ if you can back it up.” Will Rogers: “If you ever injected truth into politics you have no politics.” Phil Gramm: “I have the reliable friend you can have in American politics, and that is ready money.” Cochese: “You must speak straight so that your words may go as sunlight into our heart.” Chief Joseph, Nez Perce: “It does not require many words to speak the truth.” Mark Twain: “Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day, like a football, and it will be round and full at evening.” Walter Cronkite: “In seeking truth, you have to get both sides of a story.” “And that’s the way it is.” Sam Rayborn: “If you simply tell the truth, you’ll never get mixed up. Then you don’t have to remember what you’ve said.” Dan Rather: “The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called “truth.” GOODWILL AND FRIENDSHIPS Lyndon Baines Johnson: “If we must disagree, let’s disagree without being disagreeable.” “You’ve got to work things out in the cloakroom, and when you’ve got them worked out, you can debate a little before you vote.” Mary Kay Ash: “Sandwich every bit of criticism between two heavy layers of praise.” Mark Twain: “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Barbara Bush: “Nobody is perfect. Look for the good in others. Forget the rest.” “Remember loyalty is a two-way street.” Sam Rayborn: “If you want to get along, go along.” Babe Didrikson Zaharias: “Winning has always meant much to me, but winning friends has meant more.” BENEFICIAL Stepher F. Austin: (His self-styled epitaph, December 27, 1836) “The prosperty of Texas has been the object of my labors, the idol of my existence.” Davy Crockett: (After losing a congressional election in Tennesee) “As my country no longer needs my services, I have made up my mind to go to Texas.” Lyndon Baines Johnson: “Every man has a right to a Saturday night bath.” “Never pass up an opportunity to do an honorable favor for an honest friend.” “Sincerely attempt to heal, on an honest Christian basis, every misunderstanding that you have had or now have. Drain off your grievances.” Dwight D. Eisenhower: “You don’t lead by hitting people over the head- that’s assault, not leadership.” Stanley Marcus: “The best public relations are based on good deeds.” “People who learn to be service oriented actually derive more pleasure from their work.” Mark Twain: “To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.” Sam Rayborn (we can’t use this quote too often): “Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one.” Note: that last quote may have been the brainchild of one of the following: Ann Richards, Lyndon Baines Johnson, or Phil Gramm, as well as Sam Rayborn who is famous for using it more than the others mentioned. Zig Ziglar: “He climbs highest who helps another up.” George Jones: “My work? I’m makin’ people happy, and they darn sure make me happy.” THINK George Jones: “Sometimes the good Lord has to hit us with a sledgehammer to knock some sense into our heads.” Lyndon Baines Johnson: “If two men agree on everything, you may be sure that one of them is doing the thinking.” “The hardest task is not to do what is right but to know what is right.” Barbara Jordan: “Do not call for black power or green power. Call for brain power.” Sam Houston: “The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government.” Dwight D. Eisenhower: “A people who value privilege above principle will soon lose both.” Gen. George S. Patton: “Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.” Willie Nelson: “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start have positive results.” Chester W. Nimitz: “God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.” Sid Richardson: “My business philosophy? Don’t be in too big a hurry, don’t get exceited, and don’t lose your sense of humor. You can’t be objective and emotional at the same time.” Sam Rayborn: “Have faith. It’s contagious.” Nolan Ryan: “You can’t have a long, successful career without a positive attitude. A can-do mentality is a pitcher’s best friend.” Zig Ziglar: “Negativism is nothing more than the improper use of your imagination.” SAY Bun Phillips: “I don’t mind people thinking I’m stupid, but I don’t want to give them any proof.” Lyndon Baines Johnson: “Never miss an opportunity to say a word of congratulations.” “While you’re trying to save face, you’re probably losing your rear.” Sam Rayborn: “Don’t ever try to go too fast. Learn your job. Don’t ever talk until you know what you’re talking about.” “No one has a finer command of the language than the person who keeps his mouth shut.” Ann Richards: “Timing is everything. Bob Hope owns most of Palm Springs because he knows when not to say anything.” Mary Kay Ash: “A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one.” DO H. L. Hunt: “The more wells you drill, the greater chance you have of finding oil.” Lyndon Baines Johnson: “The best fertilizer for a piece of land is the footprints of its owner.” “It’s the price of leadership to do the thing you believe has to be done at the time it must be done.” Jim Hightower: “Do something. If it doesn’t work, do something else. No idea is too crazy.” Ann Richards: “You can’t wait on life. If you do, you’re living some life that’s “gonna happen” instead of the one that’s happening right now.” Phil Gramm: “I love Texas because Texas is future-oriented, because Texans think anything is possible. Texans think big.” Roger Staubach: “Spectacular achievements are always preceded by unspectacular preparation.” Walter Cronkite: “I never had the ambition to be something. I had the ambition to do something.” “I can’t imagine a person becoming a success who doesn’t give this game of life everything he’s got.” Barbara Bush: “Believe in something larger than yourself… Get involved in the big ideas of your time.” Mark Twain: “Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” Joseph Brant, Mohawk: “No person among us desires any other reward for performing a brave and worthy action, but the consciousness of having served his nation.” Mary Kay Ash: “Ideas are a dime a dozen. People who implement them are priceless. Nothing great is ever accomplished without follow-through.” “God does not ask your ability or inability. He only asks your availability.” Sam Houston: “Courage can achieve everything.” Tom Landry: “Leadership is getting someone to do what they don’t want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve.” FAIR Dwight D. Eisenhower: “I despise people who go to the gutter on either the right or the left and hurl rock at those in the center.” Trammel Crow: “Fairness begets fairness, and loyalty begets loyalty, and generosity begets generosity. That’s just the way humans live and work.” A fellow Rotarian from the Waco Rotary Club: “Fairness does not always require equality; fairness considers all the circumstances.” (Note: this is the same Rotarian who found a majority of these quotes and I forget his name to give him credit. In fairness, he would forgive me.) The Four-Way Test is the “divining rod” to find the beneficial waters for a global community. It is based on deeds well-done. And in this search to DO what is BENEFICIAL and FAIR, it is always important to remember Sam Rayborn’s (or whoever thought it up) well-used statement: “Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one.” As we move toward a new era where the world is flat in terms of information and communication (and “Service Without Borders” is the emerging reality that Rotary adds to the Four-Way Test and “Service Above Self”), we need the world’s best carpenters to lead our way. Joseph L. Kagle, Jr. |
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