Not The Plan
Last week I answered my phone thinking it might be a Client, but it turned out to be a polite, middle aged, woman telemarketer who tried to sell me solar panels.
I wanted to tell her immediately, but politely, that I do not accept any phone solicitations. It was about 20-30 seconds before she took the slightest pause.
I said something like, "I'm sorry, but I don't take any phone solicitations. I know you have a tough job and I sincerely wish you the best, but I'm just not a prospect for you."
She reluctantly replied, "Well, okay. Thank you for being nice."
After I hung up, a member of my team called out, "I would have just hung up on her!"
I explained she was just doing her job, and it is a hard job. She was polite and the least I could do was to treat her the way I would want to be treated if our roles were reversed. That is consistent with our Company values. Now if she was one of those obnoxious cold callers who won't take "No" for an answer then...
Does any sixth grader or 13 year old dream of being a cold call telemarketer? How about the kid who plans to be divorced... fail in business... fired from a job... get cancer... be an orphan... have a stroke... trafficked for sex starting at 11 years old... these are nightmares, often not of their doing, that some people get stuck in.
Everybody dreams. Not everyone lives their dreams.
You know, a lot of people are living with some unplanned pain, but are doing their best. That "best" may not be good enough for them to be an employee in our companies. Like a check-out person I had recently, or the person who made me a sandwich last week. They were wonderful people, but clearly a bit slow. Rather than be impatient, which is my impulse, I just paused and appreciated their effort. Then I gave them each a big, sincere smile and a thank you. Their challenges in life were not part of their plan...
As you start the second half of 2014, please remember that most people are doing their best and would love to have your sincere appreciation with a smile. Even those who are not very nice as they try to do their best. We do not know their burdens, but we can make that weight lighter by being nice. It is an investment in an eternal "Blessings Bank" that always has an ROI.
I encourage you to be a blessing to everyone you meet. Even on Mondays after holiday weekends! :) And be thankful for all that you have. The "glass" of life truly is half-full, not half-empty.
Thank you for being a blessing to me.
It is Monday. ACCOUNTABILITY TIME!
- Did you take Sanctuary time over the weekend to improve your focus?
- How did you do on your 3Strands last week?
- Have you defined your 3Strands for this week?
- By 9:00 a.m. this morning you should have 3Strands emails from each of your direct reports.
Stay on track.
