Just find out what everyone else is doing and don’t do it!

A client of ours, John Westman, had been looking for a creative way to deliver a message of love to his wife on her 35th birthday—he’d heard about the idea of a sign behind a small airplane, or spelling it out in a wheat field, or hiring a group of singers to deliver the greeting.

He wanted it to be unique, and he came up with an even more creative way—roses. Roses? Yes, roses. Typically a dozen, but how about 35 roses? Now that’s thinking big! But it was the creative way John did it that gave those 35 roses such impact. She was to pick him up from a Southwest Airlines flight at Love Field in Dallas on his return from a business trip to Phoenix. In the boarding lounge at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, John began asking his fellow passengers, complete strangers, to help him. John was not only creative, he was prepared with a great plan.

He explained that he had bought 35 beautiful red roses and wanted 34 people to each give his wife, Jan, a rose, and wish her a happy birthday. He explained to his helpers how he’d be at the door of the jet as they deplaned, and would give them each a rose as they left, so no one had to hold it during the flight. He showed them a photo of Jan so that the first few passengers off the plane could correctly identify her, and of course, once she had two or three roses, the rest would know exactly who she was.

Sure enough, 34 passengers agreed to help, and the Southwest Airlines flight attendant, after hearing about his plan, made frequent announcements during the flight, which added even further to the excitement and anticipation!

When they landed at Love Field, Jan was waiting in the boarding area (this was prior to 9-11) for what she expected to be just another warm welcome hug from John and then to head home.

But John stood at the exit door on the jetway where she couldn’t see him, giving out the roses. As she looked for him to deplane a stranger approached her and said, “Jan?” “Yes,” she smiled, and he handed her a rose and said “Happy Birthday!” Shocked and speechless, she stared at him and then the next passenger approached her followed by the third, fourth, fifth and sixth, each saying “Happy Birthday, Jan” and giving her a rose.

Soon people in the boarding area began clapping with each rose, and by the 20th rose, Jan was crying tears of joy. Finally after everyone had deplaned came John, followed by the Southwest Captain and the flight attendant. And to the delight of a cheering crowd of strangers, John Westman gave Jan the 35th rose, and a big hug and kiss. Do you think Jan Westman ever will forget her 35th birthday at Love Field?