The Silent Avatar Speaks

I wrote about Rich Schefren from Strategic Profits and his  Attention Age Doctrine 2 in a previous blog post here and I was reminded today of the value of giving - that is giving of your time and your knowledge to increase your authority status (aka become a maven) to increase your business. I was reminded about this when I travelled recently (see my blog post here) If you read my post I gave an account of the service (or lack there of) from business generally and how it impacts on their customers. What I don't get is how big business just doesn't see the value in giving something away for nothing. Take my previous post for example. There I was...  tired from doing the check- in shuffle and just wanting to get back home, when (after the obligatory flight attendant demo of how to fasten and unfasten your seat buckle), everyone on the flight was treated to dip, cheese and crackers and a drink of chardonnay or Cabernet sauvignon. How civilised I thought! How nice to have this offered free (well maybe not free as we paid for the flight). I certainly wasn't expecting it, but did it put a smile on my dial? Sure did. But here's the kicker... I'm not a wine drinker, and thought.. "that's OK. They have given out coffee/tea (plastic) cups, I'm happy to have a nice hot cup of tea with the goodies". And if your'e not into wine a hot cuppa fits the bill nicely after a long day. It wasn't a long flight, but never the less the stewardess managed to dole out the delicacies, offer around the white wine, and follow up with the red wine while everyone was happily tearing open their little packages and settling back. It was then I overheard the comment from another passenger "May I have a coffee please?". This passenger had said what I was just about to ask. The stewardess replied. "Sorry. I don't have time to do coffee or tea this flight. There just isn't the time" What the? I looked down at my tray table and the pristine clean plastic coffee cup and just shook my head. I could hear myself saying (screaming)  "What are they thinking"?!! In that moment I felt a second class traveller.  Having passed on the wine I was not considered important enough to service me (and others) with a hot beverage, all on the premise of not enough time. My thoughts screamed "Not enough time?!" I'd just witnessed well enough time to do the rounds for the other passengers who took up the offer of wine, but as a non wine drinker? gong - you loose. Was my money as good as the other passengers who were looked after? You bet. Was my bum on the seat paying for a service, keeping people employed and propping up the economy? Keeping the shareholders happy? Dammed right it was. The cost of a coffee or tea? Negligible. The damage done to the business. Priceless. Rich Schefren .. you might be on the other side of the world but brother... DO I GET IT! Whatever you can give away. Give it. Your customers WILL remember your generosity. The "gift" no matter what it is will be remembered long after the doors are shut, the lights turned out and your off to bed. If you haven't got your hands on Rich Schefren's Attention Age Doctrine Part 2 then for goodness sake stop whatever you are doing and go read it here. Your business will never be the same. Your motivation for being in business will never be the same. Your customers will love you. Let the spirit of Christmas be year round. Just do it. Give all year round - not just at Christmas. Till next post.. keep on giving. As always feel free to leave a comment.

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