“There are no traffic jams along the extra mile”
Going “the extra mile” is business means not cutting corners to save money or time, but giving extra service to a customer to provide satisfaction. “The ‘extra mile’ will have no traffic jams”—that is, not many people do provide extra—is a business saying that has been cited in print since at least 1959. “There is no traffic jam on the extra mile!” was cited in print in 1977.
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and businessman Roger Staubach (born in 1942) is often credited for saying “There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.” Staubach didn’t coin the saying, however, since it was already in use before Staubach started playing college football and well before his business career.
Wikipedia: The Extra Mile (disambiguation)
The expression go “the extra mile” probably comes from the Bible, when Jesus declares in his Sermon on the Mount, “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.” (Matthew 5:41, (NASB))”
The verse is a reference to the practice of “impressment” which, among other things, allowed a Roman soldier to conscript a Jewish native to carry his equipment for one Roman mile (milion = 1,000 paces, about 1,611 yards or 1,473 metres)—no easy task considering a Roman soldier’s backpack could weigh upwards of 100 pounds (45.4 kg). Jesus’ point was that his followers must relinquish their individual “rights” in order to advance God’s kingdom through self-sacrifice.
1 January 1959, Rock Valley (IA) Bee, “Mid Night Oil” by Paul Dean, pg. 1, col. 2:
Here’s some (new year predictions—ed.) we picked up from a friend concerning business.
(...)
The “extra mile” will have no traffic jams.
21 August 1960, Holland (MI) Evening Sentinel, pg. 4, col. 2:
The “extra mile” will have no traffic jams.
3 January 1965, Marietta (GA) Daily Journal, “Let’s Talk Business” by Len Gilbert, pg. 10, col. 6:
The “extra mile” will have no traffic jams.
(From Opie Shelton of Atlanta—ed.)
29 September 1977, Ranchland Farm News (Colorado Springs, CO), pg. 13, col. 1:
There is no traffic jam on the extra mile!
Google Books
Look at Your World
By Paul H. Dunn and Maurine Ward
Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft
1979, ©1978
Pg. 15:
The extra mile will have no traffic jams.
Google Books
How to Win Customers and Keep Them for Life
By Michael LeBoeuf
New York, NY: Berkley Books
1989, ©1987
Pg. 120:
There’s no traffic jam on the extra mile. — ANONYMOUS
OCLC WorldCat record
There’s no traffic on the extra mile : the courageous battle by Bob Foerster to overcome a rare paralysis and the amazing life of athlete Tim Hughes
Author: G F Liegerot
Publisher: New York : Vantage Press, ©1992.
Edition/Format: Book : English : 1st ed
19 January 1992, St. Louis (MO) Post-Dispatch, “When Staubach Talks, Navy Midshipmen Listen” (Baltimore Sun), pg. 8F:
“There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.’’
OCLC WorldCat record
There’s no traffic on the extra mile : lessons on the road from dreams to destiny
Author: Rickey Minor
Publisher: New York : Gotham Books, ©2009.
Edition/Format: Book : Biography : EnglishView all editions and formats
Summary:
An “American Idol” music director draws on his experiences to reveal the secrets of personal success, from delivering more than what is expected and working with a mentor to setting realistic goals and recognizing personal readiness.
OCLC WorldCat record
There is no traffic jam on the extra mile! : Tony Leon on lessons in leadership.
Edition/Format: Article : Document Computer File
Publication: Leadership magazine, No. 297 (Sep.. 2009), p. 40-44,
Google Books
Book of Business Quotations
Edited by Bill Ridgers
Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
2012
Pg. ?:
There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.
Roger Staubach, American footballer and businessman (1942–)
Real Business
5 new year’s resolutions every business should stick to
9 January, 2013
(...)
Take one blogger who took the time to compile “99 legendary customer service quotes” including such gems as “People expect good service but few are willing to give it”, “There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company.” and my personal favourite “There are no traffic jams along the extra mile”.