Are You The Customer You’d Want To Have?

Nobody knows how to be good customer anymore.

We’ve
learned everything there is to know about acting hospitable, establishing
comfort, building trust, anticipating needs, communicating messages, creating memories,
fixing problems, managing interactions, exceeding expectations, collecting
feedback, extending generosity and earning loyalty.

But
when the tables are turned, when we’re the ones being served, we suck.

Entitlement
trumps respect, impatience trumps appreciation, rudeness trumps understanding
and greed trumps civility. Who has time to be a good customer? Just fix it for
me. Just bring it to me. Just do what I say. I’m a very busy man and I haven’t
got all day. I am the customer, and you are here to serve me.

This
has got to stop.

The
minute we become customers, we have a certain set of responsibilities:

Pay those who serve you.Instead of trying to a squeeze
out a deal, honor their market value, pay them what they’re worth and let them
do their work. That way, you’ll get the best possible result.

Inform those who serve you.Instead of doing everything
your way, give them the information they need, the way they want it, when they
ask for it. That way, you make their job easier.

Educate those who serve you.Instead of expecting them to
read your mind, give them your expectations, make your needs clear and your
intentions obvious. That way, you won’t be surprised by the result.

Trust those who serve you.Instead of buying a dog and barking for it,give them your idea, let them
run with it and meet them on the finish line later. That way, you give them autonomy
to do what you hired them to do.

Protect those who serve you. Instead of draining resources
and wasting time, make up your mind, own your decisions and respect the
implications of those decisions. That way, they can just get on with the job.

Liberate those who serve you. Instead of arguing about what’s
possible, respect whatever hiccups in the system arise, let them do their job and
understand that they probably know the best solution. That way, nobody has to
get upset.

Thank those who serve you.Instead of getting what you
want and getting on with your life, give people three seconds of your time,
look them in the eye and show them genuine appreciation. That way, they’ll know
the work they do, matters.

Highlight those who serve you. Instead of rendering people
anonymous, be a stand for their greatness by praising them in front of those
who matter. That way, they’ll receive the recognition they deserve.

That’s
how to be a good customer.

And the
key is, we don’t do it to get better service. We don’t do it to run up the
numbers on the karmic scoreboard. We do it because it’s the right thing to do.
It’s the right way to treat people.

Be the
customer you’d want to have.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…

How could you be a better customer?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…

For the list called, “46 Types of Marketing,” send an email to me, and you win the list for free!

* * * *

Scott Ginsberg

That Guy with the Nametag

Writing, Publishing, Performing, Consulting

[email protected]

My job is to help companies make their mission more than a statement, using limited edition social artifacts.

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Meet Scott’s client from Nestle Purina at www.brandtag.org!

Isn’t Amazing How Much Energy We Invest In Procrastination?

I’ve been doing yoga for five years.

It’s changed my life physically, socially, emotionally,
spiritually and mentally. I’ve met some of the coolest people in the world who
have become dear friends. And I’ve become a member of a global a community, a
center of belonging, unlike any other in the world.

And yet, I will find every excuse not to go to class.

I’m too tired. I’m too stressed. I’m not hydrated. I’m still
sore from yesterday. I don’t have any clean clothes. I didn’t eat breakfast. I haven’t
taken my morning dump yet. It’s raining outside. I have a lot going on today. I’m
not feeling especially flexible. And I think I pulled something last class. Plus I really
need a massage. Screw it, I’ll just go tomorrow. I have to catch up on sleep
anyway. And I should really wait until I buy a better outfit. Plus, it’s not
like I can afford more classes. And I’m too full from lunch. And I can’t stand
the Wednesday night teacher’s annoying voice. And I don’t want to deal with
traffic. It’s too nice outside. Besides, I hit the cheese plate too hard last
night and I’m afraid I’ll fart. I’ll just practice at home. I’d never make
there on time anyway. Look, I’ve already practiced three times this week. That’s
enough. I really just need some rest. I just got back in town last night. I
drank way too Diet Dr. Pepper on vacation. And I’m pretty sure I’m coming down
with something and don’t want to get anybody sick.

That’s what runs through my head.

The way I see it, if I can just pile the excuses high
enough, that should be enough to rationalize my way out of going to class. If I
can just outsmart myself to the point of inaction, I can skip yoga and spend
the rest of the day congratulating myself for making such a mature, rational
and thoughtful decision.

Isn’t amazing how much energy we invest in procrastination?
Isn’t amazing what lengths we will go to in order to avoid doing something we
don’t want to do?

In fact, we have a running joke at our studio:

The first posture is
getting there.

Forget touching your head to your knee. If you can overcome
all the mental garbage that stands in the way of walking through the door,
you’re already a winner.

In yoga, in life, in anything, motion organizes and creates
order. As my friend Ed says, it is by motion that all things tend to their
equilibrium and find their place in the universe. And unrelenting motion is
what helps conspire towards some unifying geometrical situation.

Which reminds me, I need to go hydrate.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…

What is your favorite way to procrastinate?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…

For the list called, “35 Ways to Leverage Your Next Media Appearance,” send an email to me, and you win the list for free!

* * * *

Scott Ginsberg

That Guy with the Nametag

Writing, Publishing, Performing, Consulting

[email protected]

Yes, I do more than just wear a nametag all day.

My enterprise is actually quite robust. I add value to my clients in several cool ways.

Explore the myriad ways you, your people and your organization can leverage my talents.

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