Yesterday I took my kids to a favorite eatery.
We all like the food, the atmosphere is friendly, it’s quick and easy.
On this occasion I caught myself falling into default thinking. Old thinking if you will. And decided to create as opposed to react – which most people do.
Most often we react to situations, encounters, experiences, etc. We let the circumstance dictate how we respond, whether it’s internally or externally, or both.
When we were brought to the booth I noticed food crumbs that had neglected to be cleaned from the seating. I inquired of our server if the food could be cleaned so we could sit down. One to show my kids that we will not sit on leftover food, two so they can see a polite interaction with our server to get proper service, and three to expect more.
The server promptly came back, cleaned the area and we sat down.
Among other things the server seemed to be preoccupied and not really glad to be working, to be serving us, and was performing more in a perfunctory manner. She didn’t act as someone who was grateful to have a customer – a customer that, combined with the dozens through her shift, will pay her bills, feeds her and her family, and helps fund her dreams.
When our milkshakes were brought it became evident that we were one straw short. After waiting patiently for her to come back around, I asked if we could get another straw. She replied with “I could swear I brought enough straws…” then after checking she realized her mistake, left and retrieved the additional straw.
I caught myself in falling back into old thinking. That, based on the whole, I would leave a small (less than the normal 15%) tip…or no tip at all. There was ample justification to do so. And I have acted on this very same thinking in the past.
Instead, I continued to be polite, courteous, and when I paid left a 55% tip.
Now, in the old way of thinking, I would let this person’s attitude and lack of service negatively impact me. Reacting to the situation. Forcing me to focus on the negative, be little, and bringing me down to her level.
Instead I like to think that maybe by leaving a proportionately large tip that this person would notice and:
- Be happier and service others better because of this (in turn causing her to react positively to my actions – flipping the negative model)
- Understand that the customer has her money, pays her bills, funds her dreams, and feeds her family – and she should really step up her level of service to maximize this and every opportunity.
- Just be more positive.
People can tell and sense when you are genuine or not. When you’re just going through the motions and when you sincerely care. People reflect back to you what you send out to them – internally and externally. People are, and have been, programmed to react. Few will be the ones who deviate from reacting and focusing in on the negative.
Be grateful for every experience, good and bad. Appreciate the opportunity to live and be alive.
Impact others by being different, by creating, being positive, be the change you want to see in the the world.
Create instead of reacting. Take responsibility for your actions, the actions of others, and your future.