What is Your Song?

Some people have an optimism that is contagious and you can't help but want to be around them....their attitude is positive and they rarely let others influence their mood. You get caught up in their smile and put one on yourself....you just can't help it.



I entered the local Starbucks yesterday to grab coffee (quite simply I love coffee!) with an old colleague. After our conversation I hung out a bit to read and just get my mind wrapped around the day.

Amid the flurry of Venti Skinny Chai Lattes, Tall Caramel Macchiatos and my personal favorite, Grande (Quad) Americanos being ordered, there was a woman singing. I was surprised and delighted that one; she was unafraid to belt out a bit and two; she had a good voice.

She was handling the drive through orders and in between taking orders and handing the glorious coffee confections out the window she was singing praise hymns. It started a chain reaction....her co-workers soon joined in and this great energy (more than a normal Starbucks) began to take hold.

I know I was not the only one humming my way out the door with a rather large grin on my face thanks to my new favorite song bird! It occurred to me that like singing, our "song" is what people feed off of, you get to choose what kind of "song" you sing everyday.

"My Pleasure"

I do not frequent very many fast food establishments (sans a late night run for the border every now and again). Nor do I think of great customer service when a fast food restaurant is discussed, ever!

Today was an exception, I visited Chick-fil-A for lunch. Greeted with smiles and courteous words I ordered and as is customary I replied with a "thank you". The response "oh my pleasure sir" caught me off guard more than the happy and smiling staff.

What a way to respond to your customers, it even felt sincere! I noticed that it was the practice of EVERY employee there, the counter staff and the gal smiling and picking up trays. I was impressed as I enjoyed a very tasty chicken wrap (I was able to avoid the fried chicken sandwich but not the waffle fries, oh so good!!)

While I in awe and surprised at my visit to Chick-fil-A, it was no shock that with a few clicks I was able to find out that this company is THRIVING! The largest privately held "quick-serve" restaurant chain has posted 39 consecutive YEARS of growth! More than 1,300 restaurants are closed EVERY Sunday because of their religious dedication (so they are open less than any other fast food or "quick-serve" chain).

So let me break it down for you....happy people, good product, unwavering dedication to certain principals = healthy business!!! I'm sold!

Chick-fil-A, thanks for a good lunch and great education on how to provide outstanding service. I feel compelled to tell a bit of my experience...actually its my pleasure to do so.

Seeing is Believing

Today is Blog Action Day 2008 and as such all bloggers no matter how good or bad have been asked to write about poverty in some fashion.

In so many situations we can find it easy to discuss a problem but as one of my previous mentors use to say (he still does actually) "the hardest part is getting started". Easy to understand but so hard to do.

We justify our stagnation with rationalizations (I do it all the time!); I'm too busy, I am already giving to charity, I give to my church and they provide for the homeless, I'll give when the economy gets better....and so on.

The challenge to each of us is to go see it for ourselves. Poverty is rampant in the US and even a larger crises overseas, so there are no shortage of places to go to get a sense of the need. To see it, smell it, sweat in it and truly experience it. In so many cases it may not even take a lot of money to make large improvements.

So are some options for you to consider:

• www.c3missions.org - C3 Missions provides High Impact Orphan care in the most needy places you can imagine. They have a "vision trip" only cost you 3 days vacation, Thursday to Monday to Haiti, arguably the most needy country in this hemisphere. I have a chance to go in July, its truly life changing. Try it, you will NOT be sorry!

• http://www.kcrm.org - The Kansas City Rescue Mission provides care the the needy in the greater Kansas City area and they are always looking for help. Go hang out and talk to some folks who are in need, chances are they may teach you something.

• http://www.kiva.org - If you haven't heard of Micro-loans or Micro-financing then you need to check it out. Help others with as little as $25 financing a business! Not as "personal" as the first two options but believe me its very personal to those that it helps start a business and change their lives!

So many ways for each of us to help, I thought I would just share a few of my favorites. The real solution is seeing it and being a part of it. It not only transforms the lives of the people you help, but it profoundly effects yours as well.

"The hardest part is getting started" and "seeing is believing" so go see what you can start!