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and opened a democratic little place where lobstermen and captains of industry , cops on the beat and paranoid schizophrenics , university professors and cab drivers rub shoulders at the counter .
All of her meals are backed by a no-strings-attached guarantee : If you don ’ t like it , you don ’ t pay . Better yet , every customer quickly becomes a regular and a treasured friend . Many folks in the area eat at Becky ’ s daily . When regulars don ’ t show , they call in beforehand . Otherwise , Becky or one of her staff is on the way with a bowl of homemade soup and a muffin straight from the oven .
Her outstanding service has inspired countless publicity offers , franchise opportunities , and more . But there is only one Becky , and she ’ s motivated by one thing : love . She loves what she does , the staff she does it with , and the customers she does it for .
Love is serving others without expecting anything in return .
The Offspring of Love at Work
Ernest Dimnet , in The Art of Thinking , wrote “ Love , whether it be the attraction of Truth , or pure , simple , elemental love , always opens up the intellect and gives it freedom of genius .”
We all work . Whether we cook omelets , prepare taxes , sell cars , or lead corporations , we spend more than one-third of our lives in the workplace . We can choose to blend in , putting in our time with one eye on the clock , or we can take part in something bigger than ourselves . We can find satisfaction and meaning in our jobs every single day , but perhaps even that is aiming too low . Maybe we ought to be pursuing and living our genius .
When we deliver them with love , our products and services become more attractive , leading to better customer response , greater employee retention , and more .
When we add the irresistible ingredient of love into every element of our work , a job becomes an occupation , then becomes a career , and then becomes a successful career . We will build meaningful relationships with our colleagues . We will cultivate solid , trustworthy business relationships with our clients . And we will develop a very real , satisfying connection with the actual tasks at hand .
A positive cycle develops quickly , greatly impacting the effectiveness of our business . When we deliver them with love , our products and services become more attractive , leading to better customer response , greater employee retention and more . Best of all , the results will invariably lead to a sense of personal fulfillment and renewed motivation .
Anyone can add love to his or her work , but nobody has to . The imperative benefits as much the individual — the lover — as it does the object of its practice . Yet while the irresistible ingredient is there for the taking , not everyone partakes .
According to an article in USA Today , a Dutch psychologist investigated the differences between chess masters and grand chess masters . He found no difference in IQ , memory , or spatial reasoning . The only difference he could identify : the grand masters simply loved chess more . He concluded that they had more passion about and commitment to the game .
I ’ ve observed that you don ’ t have to love what you do to be very good at it . I know very competent and successful individuals who have developed the skills to succeed at their work . By their own admission , they see what they do as a means to an end . They don ’ t love their work , nor are they passionate about it . They are , however , good at it .
But when it comes to greatness , I intuitively concur with the Dutch researcher . The inspired performers , the uber-achievers and the grand masters of love seem to share a common denominator .
Love is the difference . This four-letter word will make you and what your do quite irresistible .
About the author :
Mark Sandorn , CSP , CPAE , is the president of Sanborn & Associates , Inc . An internationally recognized speaker and best-selling author , he is widely known as an expert on leadership and customer service . For more information , visit : www . marksanborn . com
The Credit Professional 32 Spring 2018