10 Seconds and 10 Feet

One afternoon, my family and I were shopping at a local grocery store just a few miles from our home.  We had already purchased our items and were escorted out the door by a friendly employee, who wanted to help us out.

After the elderly gentleman insisted on helping load our groceries into our family min-van (yeah, that’s right, I drive a mini van and I drive it with pride), I said to the man, “Could I ask you a question?  I’m a business owner and your service is really impressive. You all go above and beyond and it really stands out.  What type of leadership and training does your management provide?”

The grocery store bagger said, “Well, our manager has a principle we do business by. If a customer is within ten feet of you, you have ten seconds to speak to them and look to serve them in some way.”

We carried on in conversation for a couple more minutes. He last comment was “I hope you will continue to shop here.” He said it with a sincerity that made me feel as if he really meant it. At this same grocery store, if you ask where something is, they walk you to the item rather than point you in the general direction.  They ALWAYS offer to help you out to your car. They thank you for your patronage and do so with sincerity.

Our neighborhood is positioned between two different grocery stores, both of which are identical distance from us.  As new residents in our community we frequently shop at both stores to see which one best meets our needs. 

When shopping at both stores, one thing has become abundantly clear; customer service makes a significant difference in our overall experience. If you asked for assistance at our other store, they might point and say something like “I think it’s down on aisle eight.” As customers, we notice these differences.

So, what can we take away from these different customer service experiences? All of us are selling one of two things every day. We are either selling POSITIVE or NEGATIVE. Everything we do. How we speak to others, how we show up to work, how we live our daily lives.

 What are you Selling?

Ways to Sell Positive?

1) Make a Decision; we have a choice everyday when we wake up, whether we give off positive or negative energy.  

2) Make a difference. Wake up with a sole purpose in your life – to serve others and make a     POSITIVE difference in the lives of those around you.

3) ABF= Put your Actions before your feelings. Most people allow their feelings to affect their actions.   Be different and live by principles rather than your mood. You won’t always “feel” like it so decide ahead of time that you will be a person of positivity.

4) Eliminate negativity and stop complaining. Energy flows where energy goes.

Part of being special is being different. Being different in everything you do and how you do it.

Sam Allen
@CoachSamAllen

Questions are Better Than Answers

                                         Questions are better than Answers

Kids ask the best questions. Kids ask a lot of questions. I have two young boys who are the lights of my life. Jackson (5 yrs old) and Cooper (4yrs old) are some of the best question askers I know. In a five minute car ride to the grocery store, I may get twenty questions. Those with kids, nieces, nephews or those who spend time around young people know exactly what I am talking about.  My kids’ most common question is “Why…Why is the sky blue?....Why did you say that?....Why do I have to do that?”

                             
 As we get older, we start replacing our questions with answers. We often just stop asking questions.  One of the most powerful tools we have is our ability to ask the right questions. Questions allow us to learn from others and they often help those around us.


If you’re a coach, teacher, business leader, parent or friend, your ability to be more
impactful is in direct proportion to your ability to ask great questions.

At times, when I have grown the most is when someone has challenged me with a great question.   I had a coach one time ask me what it felt like to be coached by me.  It challenged me to be introspective and really think from the athlete's perspective. A great question forces us to think more deeply, to be inquisitive. A great question leads us to better answers. Better answers lead to a more fulfilling life.

Why Ask Questions
1) Questions show an interest in others' lives. They show you CARE.
2) It leads people to their own answers. Next time someone asks you a question, ask a question back. This is especially effective for those that are leading others.
3) It makes you BETTER. Remember, success leaves CLUES. Seek answers from the people you look up to, respect and view as successful.

3 Questions to find CLUES for success
1) What three things have allowed you to become successful?
2) What’s the best advice you have been given?
3) What would you tell your younger self?

Why do we stop asking questions? I don’t know…why did you stop?

A few years ago, I realized that somewhere along the way, I stopped asking questions.  Maybe I thought I had figured most things out in life. Maybe I was embarrassed to ask and show vulnerability? Whatever the reason, it really doesn’t matter. What matters is that because I wasn’t asking questions, I had missed opportunities to grow myself and the people around me! I had lost my inner-child, my curiosity and along with it one of my most powerful means of improvement. What I needed was to Stop Answering and Start Asking…

                                                                             

-Sam Allen
www.bcbball.com
@CoachSamAllen