A few years ago my family found a stray dog in our front yard. We caught him and called the number on his tag- it turned out the dog was owned by a little old lady down the street from us. She was delighted to get the dog back, and told us as much when we returned him to her.

As we turned to leave her modest house she said "If there's anything you need, let me know." I smiled to myself as we walked outside. What could she possibly offer us? It didn't matter, of course- we weren't doing it for a reward.

Flash forward 2 years. I'm sitting down to a grand piano on the top story of the nicest hotel in St. Louis, making an unheard of sum for playing just a few hours of solo piano. The top of the hotel actually rotates as I play, giving me a 360 degree view of the city. The Arch is just a few hundred feet away.

That little old lady we returned the dog to was a booking agent- one of the most influential in the upper crust society of St. Louis. She'd gotten me this gig. Since then, she's booked me for literally tens of thousands of dollar's worth of shows in some of the most elite venues in St. Louis.

What would have happened if I had been rude? Or ignored the dog? Or been condescending to her?

Never underestimate anyone. The people you think can't help you, usually are the ones that can.