A check, a bank, and a cool girl

Don’t you just love a great customer service experience? As a backdrop to what happened to me recently, let me paint the picture of our summer here. We were in the middle of over 50 days of 100 plus degree temperatures, and absolutely not a drop of rain. Talk about setting some records! The heat was unrelenting and it is hard to stay cool when you are running back and forth to client offices, or doing errands.

So, on that steamy Friday I was pulling through the bank after lunch, on my way to another client appointment. (I remember it was a Friday because the bank tellers had on their “Got Money?” t-shirts.) I was depositing a check and getting some cash back for the weekend. When the little container came back to me through the bank chute – what do they call those things? – I took out my receipt and cash, and saw something else there. Lo and behold, it was a popsicle! I just chuckled and looked over at the teller. She was grinning and laughing and said, “It’s Beat the Heat” time. What a very small and inexpensive thing to do to add customer service. It was totally a surprise, and very welcome after weeks and weeks of heat and humidity. I was thrilled, needless to say, and thanked her and laughed, too.

I told many people about my experience that day and posted about it on Facebook. It made a big impression on me, and I suspect on many others that afternoon. I don’t know if that was just a one-day happening, but it will stay with ME for a long time.

So, think about how you can add over-the-top, unexpected customer service to your own clients. It doesn’t have to cost much or be extravagant. Sometimes it’s the little things that matter the most.

Tell me about your favorite customer service stories. We’ve all had bad ones…time to celebrate and brainstorm some “cool” ideas!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Whoa! Too long since last post. Business has been moving and shaking and I’m sprinting to enjoy every single minute.

Here is a cool thing that happened this week. I was asked to fill in at the 13th hour as the guest for a 30-minute talk show that is filmed on one of the college campuses  in town. It’s called “Coffee Break” and the host promised to send me a copy of the recording. I’ll let you know when I get it. The host wanted to know about my business and we talked a lot about social media. The show is picked up by one of the local cable networks, so if you are lucky enough to get that channel – you might just see me on the curvy couch! The whole thing was a lot of fun (except for the part where I was standing in my closet that morning wondering what someone wears to be a guest on Coffee Break.)

Home Based Business Ribbon Cutting

Walk with me now as I go back a couple of weeks. I am a member of the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and  recently they had a mass ribbon cutting for home based businesses. Plus they asked all of us set up a little “booth” so that others could mingle around and find out about our services. It was totally fun and I met some great new women business owners. Here is a picture of all of us cutting the big ribbon at once. That’s me in the front in the fuchsia suit. You can’t see it, but one of the ladies has a gigantic pair of scissors that was used to do the cutting. I’ve got a few other pictures posted in Facebook, too. Careful, <—- that one is scary!

There have been so many networking opportunities lately and I am joyfully fitting in as many speaking gigs and new client meetings as possible. The only cloud has been a rock dinging my windshield as I was tearing down the interstate this afternoon on my way to a meeting. Within 20 minutes the crack had spread about 6 inches on each side of the ding! (can you say new windshield?) AND, shortly thereafter the traffic came to a screeching halt and I inched my way only two miles in the next hour. Needless to say, the meeting was postponed.

Spring has solidly settled in here and all the flowering trees are full of delicate white blooms. My daffodils are bowing their yellow heads, and branches are starting to show little green buds. It seems way too early, but I am happy for the warmer weather.

Wishing you a FUN weekend!

Azaleas

After church yesterday I drove over to Norton Art Gallery to enjoy what many locals enjoy during this time of year. The gardens on site behind the museum. They are at their peak right now. It’s like being at The Masters! (Go ahead and click on the link. I’ll wait for you. You will see what I’m talking about.) In recent years they (whoever does this) have created many new flower beds, added literally hundreds of Japanese maple trees – multiple varieties, new dogwoods, and a very cool rock and cactus garden lining the whole back wall of the museum.The dogwood had pretty much ended flowering, but the snowball viburnum were spectacular.

There were the expected excited moms and dads getting post-Easter pictures of their little ones sitting on the bridges or perched among the flowers. Hikers by the dozen, walking the trails and resting on the many benches. Photographers taking senior class pictures, family photos, maybe an engagement photo, and some, just soaking it all in just because. Most people I know have pictures of their children taken at Norton during “the azaleas.” I have them, too, and it’s such a relaxing time for me to wander up and down the walk, watching everyone else have their moments there, and taking in the amazing view. There are a couple of benches down by the little pond at the bottom and it was nice to soak up a few rays and watch the scurry of activity.

I wish you the peace and beauty that I found yesterday in a hidden garden. If you live nearby, grab your lunch and head down there this week. I’ll save you a seat!