Free Stuff

I’ve noticed over the last few months that I get something free from public establishments just about every day, whether they be restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, retail stores, and you name it. I began wondering why this was so before I realized that the answer is actually quite simple: I’m a great customer!

Okay, so this might be a little bragging but hey, the proof is in the pudding. Generally when I walk into any establishment, I give everyone there my brightest and best smile, and radiate all my love to whoever’s job is to take care of me. Being in customer service myself, I know the mundane but real frustrations of this person. I know, for example, that the customer is not always right and that he or she very likely has to deal with their fair share of butt holes every day. You see, great, exceptional customer service begins with the customer. Many people forget that. Don’t get me wrong, however, as a manager I’ve had to master the art of dealing with tough customers both respectfully and diplomatically (and this is undoubtedly one of the best career skills I’ve gained), but it’s much easier to deal with a pleasant customer than a difficult one--and, more importantly, I can do more for a pleasant one than a tough one because the effort is natural, almost as natural as the air I breathe. Not only that, it just feels good.

The cashier might’ve made a mistake and overcharged me. So what? We’re all human and make honest mistakes; he or she is no exception. The sales associate may not know where my wanted item is located on the sales floor. Fine, I’ll find it myself and make a joy of looking for it, but thank you for all your help, sir.

I often (too often, as you can imagine) write letters and make phone calls to managers and corporate customer feedback departments recognizing the efforts of employees who go above and beyond to take care of me. I don’t look at it as time wasted but rather an investment in the development of a member of the professional workforce and, above all, a human being.

Somebody told me the other day, after sharing my free stuff stories with them, “Look, I’m not gonna be fake and pretend to be something I’m not.” My immediate, guttural response was, Fine, don’t get free stuff then. But I kept it to myself. Instead, I told him the truth: that deep inside, whether we realize it or not, we’re all generous. The generosity is always there; it’s simply looking for an outlet. And practicing generosity on members of the professional workforce is one way to harness this great intrinsic attribute.

Having a pleasing personality, as Napoleon Hill reminds us in Think and Grow Rich, is a skill that can take us very, very far--not simply the narrow avenues of getting free things. Look at how far it took Andrew Carnegie. This is not to understate other important attributes that we need for self-development; however, in many instances, being pleasant, generous and buoyant can be the best career move we make.

If you don’t know where to start, a warm smile is a good place.