It's been a while...

It has been a while since I last updated this. I haven't really written because not a whole lot has changed in my life. At least, nothing exciting. I'm still waiting for Mimi to come home. I have done a little more petsmart shopping/looking. That has been more fun then it sounds. I'm becoming less critical of 'puppy clothes'. Mimi is so little that she may need a cute sweater and puppy shoes to keep warm on her bathroom outings. There are some really cute things out there. I have some new pictures of Mimi that I will put on here. They just don't do her justice but they are still cute. She is cute!

I sometimes forget how much I enjoy my job. How much of a difference that I can really make in peoples lives. It is really fun to be reminded. I have a story I want to share with you. It is a customer service story and is really touching. It is long but worth the read:

The Simple Truths of Service...Inspired by Johnny the Bagger
This is a true story as told by Barbara Glanz, CSP...
A few years ago, I was hired by a large Supermarket chain to lead a customer service program–to build customer loyalty. During my speech I said, "Every one of you can make a difference and create memories for your customers that will motivate them to come back. How? Put your personal signature on the job. Think about something you can do for your customer to make them feel special–a memory that will make them come back."
About a month after I had spoken, I received a call from a nineteen-year-old bagger named Johnny. He proudly informed me he was a Downs Syndrome individual and told me his story.
"I like what you talked about!" he said, "but at first I didn’t think I could do anything special for our customers. After all, I’m just a bagger. Then I had an idea!" Johnny said. "Every night after work I would come home and find a thought for the day. If I can’t find a saying that I like, I just make one up!"
When Johnny had a good thought for the day, his Dad helped him set it up on the computer and print multiple copies. Johnny cut out each quote and signed his name on the back. Then he would bring them to work the next day.
"When I finished bagging someone’s groceries, I put my thought for the day in their bag and say, Thanks for shopping with us."
It touched me to think this young man–with a job most people would say is not important–had made it important by creating precious memories for all his customers.
A month later the Store Manager called me...
"You won’t believe what happened. When I was making my rounds today, I found Johnny’s checkout line was three times longer then anyone else’s! It went all the way down the frozen food aisle. So I quickly annouced, ‘We need more cashiers; get more lanes open!’ as I tried to get people to change lanes. But no one would move. They said, ‘No, it’s okay–we want to be in Johnny’s lane–we want his thought for the day."
The store Manger continued...
"It was a joy to watch Johnny delight his customers. I got a lump in my throat when one woman said, ‘I used to shop in your store once a week, but now I come in every time I go by, because I want to get Johnny’s ‘thought for the day.’"
A few months later the Manager called me again....
"Johnny has transformed our store. Now when the floral department has a broken flower or an unused corsage, they find an elderly woman or a little girl and pin it on them. Everyone’s having a lot of fun creating memories. Our customers are talking about us...they’re coming back, and bringing their friends. A wonderful feeling of service spread throughout the entire store...and all because Johnny chose to make a difference!"
Johnny’s idea wasn’t nearly as innovative as it was loving. It came from his heart–it was real. That’s what touched his customers, his peers and those who read this story.
Great Service, comes from the heart.

Mimi 9/12

Mimi 9/12