What I want for Christmas

ecamulli — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:52:22 GMT

I've just completed some online purchases for my daughter. I know she's going to love the spy kit. Hey...who wouldn't.

I usually don't ask for much. Apathetic? Probably. But I've realized beyond a shadow of a doubt that by not asking for much, I am assuring myself of one certain thing: I will receive very little.

So now I've been thinking about what I want this year (besides a big iTunes gift card) and it is starting to become clear. At the risk of sounding a bit hokey, I simply want to do what I love.

I've discovered that I love helping people. I love teaching, showing, facilitating, collaborating. I love going the extra mile and making people feel special because they deserve it. Don't we all from time to time? I love delivering on promises. I love being on time for an appointment. I love making guests feel welcome. I love conveying enthusiasm and excitement.

Okay great, I love this stuff. So now I need to do what I love and there is no better way than to come to work everyday on the lookout for opportunities to do the things I love. I'll admit, it can be hard for me and for anybody for that matter. It's hard when you sit at a desk all day. It's hard when you're in meetings all day. It's hard when you work remotely. It's hard when you're living out of a suitcase. Bottom line...it's hard when you're in a routine.

A long time ago I read a story about a black bear. He was raised in captivity and spent most of his time sleeping in a small enclosure, about 10 feet by 10 feet. Everyday they would open the cage and put food just inside the door for the bear to eat. The bear would walk 10 feet forward, eat, then go 10 feet back. When the bear was about 3 years old, the keepers wanted to release the bear back into the wild. They drove the entire 10 by 10 cage, with bear, out into the wild. They opened the cage and the bear hopped out. They pulled their truck away and watched for a while. I probably don't have to tell you what they saw... The bear walked 10 feet forward and 10 feet back...back and forth, over and over. Finally, the bear just lied down and went to sleep.

A whole forest of opportunity awaiting the bear, but no go. He was stuck in his routine and couldn't even see the forest...or even the trees for that matter. They took the bear back with them. They eventually sold the bear to a zoo where it received better treatment and carried out the rest of its zoo days in the companionship of another black bear.

A whole forest of opportunity awaits all of us. But it isn't made up of trees...it's made up of customers, both internal and external. If we are going to do what we love then we need to get up and get out of our comfort zone. Explore. Venture out. Forage. Look for opportunity... because one thing is for sure: it's not going to creep up on your cubicle, knock on your wall and say, "here I am!" Our customers are our opportunity. Think about how to connect with them. Go above and beyond and just do it.

To do what you love takes work. So WORK!!! and give yourself the best Christmas gift ever.

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What I want for Christmas