$3.50 a Day or the Vision to Connect a Nation?
One man saw a paycheck. The other saw a purpose. What do you see?
“You might be on the right track, but if you just sit there, you will get run over.”
— Will Rogers
$3.50 a Day or the Vision to Connect a Nation?
Here’s a story Zig Ziglar liked to tell, it’s worth remembering the next time your “why” feels distant or worn thin.
During the Gilded Age, on a blistering summer day, a railroad crew was laying track in the heat when a private train rolled to a stop nearby. From the final car, a window opened and a voice called out. “Dave, is that you?”
The crew chief, Dave Anderson, looked up and recognized the voice—his old friend Jim Murphy, now the president of the railroad.
Jim invited Dave into the air-conditioned car. The two shared memories for nearly an hour. When Dave rejoined the crew, his co-workers were stunned.
“How do you know him?” one asked.
Dave smiled. “We started at the railroad on the same day—23 years ago.”
Another of the men, half-jokingly and half-seriously, asked, “Well, Dave, then how come Jim’s sitting in air-conditioning and you is out here busting your butt in the sun with all of us?”
Dave gave a wry smile and wistfully explained, “I went to work for $3.50 a day. Jim Murphy went to work to connect America.”
The difference wasn’t intelligence, talent, or luck. It was vision.
Jim Murphy had a vision in mind, while Dave Anderson did not. Jim worked hard and always looked for opportunities to improve himself, and as a result, he climbed the ranks of the company. Every rail he helped lay was part of something transformational—connecting cities, fueling industry, and shaping a nation.
On the other hand, Dave was content to do his job and collect his paycheck. Jim could see the bigger picture. Dave saw a job. Jim saw a mission.
Purpose-driven leaders don’t just manage—they inspire. They help others connect everyday effort to extraordinary outcomes. When you're leading others, managing adversity, or mentoring young people, remember … your words and your example help shape whether someone becomes more like Dave or like Jim.
“A job is what you’re paid for; a calling is what you’re made for.”
— Steve Harvey
Connecting this quote to the story. Dave, who viewed his work as a job for $3.50 a day, and Jim, who saw his role as a calling to connect a nation—remind us that purpose, not just pay, determines our impact.
This week’s Chasing Influence tip: Take a few minutes and reflect on why what you do as a leader or coach matters. Ask yourself what larger purpose drives your work with others? How does your leadership contribute to something bigger than you?
If you enjoyed this story, a series of three Chasing Influence workbooks is available. Stories are accompanied by discussion questions and answers. Each workbook contains 33 lessons to use with any team.
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©Troy Urdahl, 2025