Fundraising

As I was having lunch last week, my cell phone was ringing off the hook.  Before it started to ring, though, I ducked into a Taco Bell to grab a quick lunch.  I was starving and was having lunch late as it is.  As the crew member behind the counter gave me my tray of food, it that was right at the same time that all the voice mails that I left earlier that day started to be returned.

Ok, I thought, looks like lunch can wait a little longer.  However, I didn't take the calls because I had to.  I took them because I wanted to.  The people calling me back were calling back on some very important issues, and I didn't want them or I to wait another minute to discuss them.

When it comes to your business or service, have you ever felt that way?  Like you must answer that phone right now?  Well, personally, most times I'll just eat my lunch and return my calls later.  Today that was not to be, and the result is a large part of the rest of this article.

When I was on the phone, instead of looking down at my food, which would only make me more hungry, I was looking around the restaurant.  I saw soda machines, I saw people sitting down and eating, afraid to make eye contact with anyone.  I saw the hanging signs that were marketing the latest concoction that could be loosely translated into Mexican food.  Thus far, nothing remarkable.  Just another lunch at another Taco Bell, nothing to see here.

How untrue that turned out to be!  See, I had a glimpse of my million dollar lesson when I ordered my food, but I didn't realize it yet.  It wasn't until I kept looking around and observing the space around me.  Then, I was able to put it all together with what I experienced when I ordered my food.

Combining the two have created a million dollar lesson that I would like to share with you.  So, let me start from the beginning of the lesson.

We already established that I was pretty hungry and late for lunch.  So, as I walk up the counter, a very large man, probaly tall enough to play any one of the more physical sports you care to name, greets me with the biggest smile I'd seen in weeks. In a very genuine and sincere tone, he welcomes me to Taco Bell and asks what he can get for me.

Now, a smiling welcome and the obligatory asking what someone behind the counter can get for me is not usually remarkable.  Except for two things. One, he said it with such sincerity, it seemed like it was his first day on the job and he was just so happy to be there.  Translation: Enthusiasm!

Two, he gave the people before me, and the people after me, the same heartfelt sincere greeting.  Translation: Consistency!

As my order was ready and he gave me my food, I was already on the phone.  So, I grabbed my lunch and sat at a table where I could see the order counter.

As I talked, not many customers walked in. However, an elder man walked in with a cane and leaned on the rail.  As the crew member greeted him in the consistently sincere style, the gentleman let him know that he was still browsing the menu.  When the elder gentleman was ready to order, he placed his order and accepted his drink cup from the crew member.

What happened next really impressed the heck out of me.  The crew member, seeing that this gentleman had a cane suggested that the elder gentleman get his drink and have a seat anywhere he liked.  The crew member then said that he would personally bring the elder gentleman's meal.

Again, this may not be remarkable to most, as many of may (or may not, from what I've seen lately) open a door for someone, or do something helpful of some sort.  But then, I put all the pieces together.

Here's my analysis, for everything I witnessed while at lunch at Taco Bell.

As I think about the various fast food restaurants, Taco Bell rarely stands out as a "heckuva" place to receive great food and great service.  This is not to bash Taco Bell,  and the fact remains that most people don't go there for the warm smiles and friendly greetings.  Especially when their main slogan has to do with a "4th Meal", which usually comes aftera  night of some kind of partying.

So, in putting all this together, I wanted to highlight a few things with my analysis:

1. The person behind the counter was big enough to probably walk on to any NFL training camp and at least get a shot at trying out.  Therefore, he didn't have to be nice.


2. The person behind the counter was treating everyone with the same genuine "glad to see you!" demeanor, creating a very infectious atmosphere.  This is written about extensively in How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.  The foremost expert on human relations and public speaking.


3. By doing those two things, I was both glad I chose to eat there and glad to part with my money, which was, by the way, about $6 Bucks.


4. The person behind the counter didn't have to offer to take the elder gentleman his tray, but he did so anyway.  There are no posted policies requiring such behavior; therefore his actions were true and from the heart, with no hidden agenda.


5. The person behind the counter was most likely not making more than $9 or $10 per hour, maybe even less.  However, his attitude, enthusiasm, consistency, and outward gratitude to be there and serving his customers made him worth a whole heck of a lot more than whatever his rate of pay may happen to be. Most of all, he made me feel like a million bucks, even if wasn't making a million bucks.


6. The crew member I witnessed that day last week, taught me a million dollar lesson, and the price of admission was my $6 combo meal, which allowed me to sit down and enjoy the lesson that was brought right before my very eyes.


7. If that crew member were to continue every single day the way he did that way, he will undoubtedly become a millionaire himself.  Simply because the service and gratitude on a level of his is both rare, and very contagious.

Think about your business for a moment. If you and your staff conveyed sincerity, service, gratitude, humility, and enthusiasm, would your customers or clients ever have a problem giving you their money?  Well, I wonder how much better that Taco Bell is doing by having that man on their team, working for a real bargain, and making everyone feel special and welcome.

If my $6 helped me learn a million dollar lesson, and you learned a similar one for free simply by reading this, then hopefully we are well on our way to a success bigger than just money.

Thanks for reading and for doing something positive today.

Jay Medina has over 20 years experience in the Information Technology industry. He has held positions with prominent companies such as America Online and has consulted for organizations such as Aaron Spelling Entertainment and the J. Paul Getty Trust.

As part of Jay's business experience, he has started two technology consulting firms of his own, and made them rather successful by holding to the simple premise of being willing to serve others.

Currently, Jay is a technology consultant for an international consulting firm that is a joint venture between Microsoft and Accenture, and he runs an online magazine called HelpfulAdvisor.com.

Jay's goal for HelpfulAdvisor.com is to be a trusted resource for entrepreneurs and small businesses to get the kind of information, advice, and services that are usually hard to come by for start-up businesses with very little capital.

You can get more free articles, software, and information at http://www.HelpfulAdvisor.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - How I Learned a Million Dollar Lesson for Only $6 Bucks!