Thomas A. Edison, 1878. Photo courtesy of U. S. Department of Interior, National Park Service, Edison National Historic Site.
“I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others… I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent….”
Today is the anniversary of the birth of Thomas Alva Edison, born in 1847.
Thank you Mr. Edison and to the Edison in all of us that desires to serve others.
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Get personal. Care for someone today.
Questions:
1. How well do you know your customers/guests?
2. How well do they know you? Do you share personal stories with them? Do they feel compelled to share their life events with you?
3. Do you ask?
Answers:
1.) Pretty well. Names, buying habits, family members, job, travel, church, favorite tv show, etc. Different ways of getting to know them.
2.) They know I was out for a month following cancer surgery. They’ve told me of their struggles with cancer and other diseases.
3.) When I say, “How are you doing today?” I mean it. It may reveal a need that I can fulfill.
Has this process become mundane when you interact with your customers? John C. Maxwell said it best:
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Care enough about someone today!
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He just wanted to be a pirate.
Are you putting lipstick on a pig or do you show potential employees what your company is made of?
Are you hiring to fulfill a short-term need? Or are you hiring to fulfill the goals of your business?
Sure, you have to fill out forms for the IRS, get proper identification, setup payroll . . . a lot of stuff to do. But that person sitting in front of you during the interview is a potential investment. Is that how you see them?
New hires need to know what is expected of them and they should be rewarded for achieving stated company goals. One of the best ways to support this is through regular evaluations and consistent application of rewards and advancement.
As a leader, that means you should have a system in place where goals are communicated regularly. How? We’ll leave that for another day.
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Mrs. Balentine spells it out.
Do you spell it out? Literally?
How about posting a note on the wall?
Is it common sense to have to make a poster of expectations?
Yeah. It really is a good idea. 🙂
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Just smile. 🙂
. . . between two people is a smile.
I’ve said it before, and it’s worth repeating. Smile for your customers. It will probably brighten their day. Plus it’s a gift that is easily given back. 🙂
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile what’s the use of crying
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you’ll just smile
“Smile” – 1936, music written by Charlie Chaplin, lyrics written by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons (1954).
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