Be the joy...

Sometimes that is easier said than done, right? To be the joy in the lives of those around you.

In our business, the business of customer service, this can be one of the greatest tools you could possibly have in your pocket. To be the joy in the lives of your customers.

"What does that even mean?" you ask? "I'm just here to take their order and deliver their products" you say?

Oh, but you can do and be so much more.

Being joy in the lives of your customers means being the person who they love to do business with because the experience they have with you always leaves them feeling awesome. The "Chick Fil A" experience if you will.

A smile. A thank you. A "my pleasure!"

But it goes beyond just this.

It's recognizing that because your two lives are intersected because of your business, you have the opportunity to do life WITH your customer. Now, this doesn't mean you need to be all up in their business and know every intricate detail of said life.  We aren't talking stalker here, but what we are talking about is going beyond just a sales transaction. Showing your customer that because they invest you in, you're willing to invest in them.

To celebrate their highs & recognize the lows. To be gracious and generous and appreciative of what they bring to the table. That every interaction with your customer leaves them better than when they came. That you, with intention, do or say something that reminds then why they can't imagine doing business with anyone else. This could all be said for your role as a leader. The two aren't very far apart at all. It comes down to joy.


"So how do I do that?" I'm glad you asked.

You give handwritten thank you cards. You say 'Happy Birthday!' You celebrate new babies or jobs or graduations. You offer condolences or prayers when their hearts are aching. You bring laughter & goodness on Facebook instead of grouchy complaints or "shares" of ugliness. You smile or say hello when you pass them at Target. You tie up their packages with beautiful ribbon making each order a gift, even if it's just for themselves. You be the joy.

One of my favorite quotes from Walt Disney is this...

Be the joy and do it well. While goodies and giveaways and samples are all great, YOU are truly your greatest billboard when it comes to your business. Your product is amazing, no doubt, but people come back because of what YOU can give them. An experience they can't get many other places. 

Being the joy won't always be easy either. 

When we have our own tough stuff going on, pouring good into those around us can feel daunting. But, my friend, when you choose joy, even in those moments, and you share that joy with others, not only will you see a shift in your business as your customers come back for more and bring their friends along too, but what you'll find is that in being the joy for those around you, your own cup will begin to overflow. It will be inevitable. 

Be the joy.

Happy dream chasing.

-Amanda

Why the Pixie Dust?

In yesterday's post I shared with you the life verse that I plan on focusing on during this new year. Proverbs 31:25. That alone did a pretty good job of explaining the 'Proverbs' side of my blog name, but not so much the pixie dust.
You see, I love all things Disney. Legit. LOVE. And if you know anything about Disney is that pixie dust is one ingredient found in many of it's tales. Most notably as giving it's recipients the power to fly.
 It would be quite easy to think my love for Disney is the cartoon side of things. While I do adore Mickey and his friends, you won't come into my home and necessarily see big bright colors and animated characters filling the walls.
Instead, you'll see clever winks and nods hidden among the normal things. For instance, a small black silhouette of Jaq and Gus sneaking a key into a mouse hole hiding in our kitchen or a mangled fork sitting among some shells in a bowl. It's there, but you have to look for it.
What I love so much is the whimsy, the adventure, the imagination and the magic.
Most of all, I love what the whole Disney empire was born of. Walt, a seemingly ordinary man and his dream chasing heart.

Every one of us has dreams and if you're like me, you think of them often. Our dreams are all different. For some, it's grand adventure in the great wide somewhere (see what I did there) and for others, it may be building a family, getting that perfect job, buying the dream house or maybe even living a life free of debt. It could even be something different than any of these things, but we have them.
How often though, do we chase them? I mean full steam chase them instead of sitting around wishing and hoping? Very rarely, right? Because dream chasing is hard.

It's hard because it takes action and sometimes we don't know what that should look like.
It's hard because we're worried about what others will think about us and those dreams.
It's hard because what if we fail?

Walt Disney was a man made of dreams. Think any of these thoughts ever went through his mind? Of course...plus some. As he chased his own, he was repeatedly laughed at and not taken seriously. I mean, he was fired from one job for "lack of creativity". It's true. How demeaning it all must of felt.
There must have been moments where he felt straight up worthless and maybe even questioned what he was doing.
How many of us would have thought about quitting? How many of us just would have?
He probably thought about it...but he didn't. He continued, no matter the obstacles, in hot pursuit of his dreams.
He knew the value of his dreams were worth far beyond what the words or thoughts of others were. He knew his dreams were worth chasing no matter how many times he was told they were stupid.
He knew if he failed, he just needed to figure out another way to go at it.
He never gave up and look what he left behind.
An awe inspiring legacy.
Timeless memories made as families cuddle up on couches to watch a movie together.
Wonder filled eyes as one steps onto Main street of Magic Kingdom to see Cinderella's castle.
First words read in books of classic fairy tales reborn and new stories told teaching little ones they can be anything they want to be.
The reminder that our dreams can come true, if we only have the courage to pursue them.
That we be dream chasers too.

Dream chasing is a topic you'll hear me speak of often as I write. It's what I do daily through my business and help others do as I lead them in their own. To encourage them to fly instead of sitting idly and letting the world pass by.

So, yes, pixie dust. The ingredient that gives the ability to fly. The magic. The wonder. The imagination. The dream chasing.

Proverbs and Pixie Dust. Stepping boldly into 2017 with strength, dignity, laughing without fear of the future as we chase the dreams we've hidden in our hearts for too long.

After all...