I rushed down to the lobby of the SE Hotel in San Diego a couple weeks ago to grab a cup of coffee for myself and hot tea for a friend. It was 7:00 a.m. and I was on a tight schedule. As I whisked toward the elevator, a hotel employee dashed from behind a counter to push the elevator button for me. “Thank you,” I said, “I hadn’t figured out how I was going to do that with both hands full.” He then entered the elevator with me, and asked what floor I was going to. He pressed the button for me, then stepped back out of the elevator, wishing me a good day. I was delighted. Before I even knew I had a need, he noticed what was coming, and stepped in to help.
Imagine being that employee. How easy would it have been for him to stay where he was and watch me figure out how to maneuver my two hot cups to push that elevator button? What did he have to gain by helping me? I think the bigger question is, “What would he have lost by not stepping in?” Experiencing the genuine appreciation of a customer feels good. Being someone’s hero in a moment of need is inspiring. Expressing an act of compassion is rewarding.
Take a moment and complete the following sentence: “If I could do it over, I would . . . “
Would you have chosen to be a little less or a little more? Less or more accommodating? Less or more helpful? Less or more compassionate?
When I think about how I might complete the sentence, it comes to mind that I would have been a little kinder, shown a little more patience, and chosen to go the extra mile, if I could do a few things over. This is the kind of exercise that wakes us up to who we really want to be with the people in our lives.
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