Flickr photo by Jan Tik

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If you are going to tell someone “this is the best we can do.“ Make sure it’s the truth!

This weekend I had to pick up a tux for a family member from a nation wide chain store that specializes in men’s suits, tuxes, and accessories.   When I arrived there was one salesman working with a customer and two gals who were sitting behind a desk, both completing a phone call.    The gals acknowledged I was waiting and let me know it would just be a minute.

A moment later the salesman came over and and asked how he could help me.   I told him why I was there and he proceeded to walk over to a rack, grab the bag with the tux, and bring it over to me.   As he was handing me the bag he noticed the zipper was broken from the top to the bottom of the bag . . . He says to me
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“the zipper is broken, but this is the best we can do.”

Just as he said that one of the gals who was now  finished with her phone call grabbed the bag from his hand and walked over to the rack and put the tux I was picking up in another bag with a zipper that worked.

Really . . . that’s the best they can do?  That’s a pretty bold statement for such a lazy display of service.   It doesn’t make me want to ever go there again.
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Perhaps this salesman wasn’t feeling well or maybe he was out late the night before or maybe he is really just that disengaged in his job.  Whatever the case I’m pretty sure that if George A. Zimmer had witnessed this service he would have given a few coaching pointers and taken his employee back to customer service 101.  This certainly isn’t good for an organization . . . see “The Cost of Average”

It’s important for each of us to take a moment and ask ourselves:

“Am I doing the best I can?”

And if not:

• Is this acceptable? (for you or those depending on you)
  
• If you continue, will we reach our goals? (do you even have goals? do you know what your best is?)
  
• What needs to change for you to take a new approach?
  

The challenge that each of us are faced with is we don’t take the time to ask “Am I doing the best I can?” Take the time and ask!  Your life will change.  Your business will change.  The impact you have on the world around you will change!

How different would our country be if everyone asked this of themselves?

Jason Kiesau Business Leadership, Random Experiences