Customer Service

Over the weekend, we went dining in the Blue Mountains, NSW. It was an experience to say the least. You would imagine if a restaurant charged high prices then the food would be exceptional and the service out of this world.

Well the food lived to its reputation, and it was divine, melt-in your mouth experience and dessert by far the best dish. We were surprised however the aloofness and the coldness shown by the wait staff, all on a mission to ensure all the tables were clean. You ended up pouring your own wine and orders taken in real military fashion. It was sad to feel just like you were inconveniencing them with your order.

The weather was cold outside and inside the restaurant, we tried to get on with our meal, however the energy was just not right.

When you have exceptional customer service, patrons stay longer, they order more food and drinks and you have built up loyal customers. Why is it then, that some restaurants just do not bother with this fine art of building relationships?

Perhaps the food is enough to entice them back, or the fact that there are few restaurants of that calibre in the region. Well just because the food is great, do we want to be treated in such a cold manner. For me being congruent is about being polite, and if you are in a service role, your obligation to learn more about your customer. That is good customer service.

And I am not talking about 'blowing them away' type service, that is a rare thing in this city.

In other countries, waitressing is an art form, respected, professional and empathetic. They could serve you just a piece of bread and wine and you would be happy. As they connect with you and take pride in their work.

Silence

Today we are constantly surrounded by noise. We get so used to it, that we put the music louder as habit, and even speak louder to be heard. We have mobiles ringing, TV on and demand that everyone does more multi-tasking.

Well, we can all experience silence from time to time and it is absolutely refreshing. Think of having the whole weekend without TV? or just bathing in the silence of the day and not having the need to fill the void.

I had a 3 day break, and yes it was filled with silence, only the birds to wake us up in the mornings and the sheer silence in the evenings, it was deafening, the first day, I thought I was in a different planet!. So used to the noise that fill up every single gap in my day.

Needless to say, the silence was welcomed, a time for reflection and harmony, time to rejuvenation and peace.

We all need this from time to time.

So embrace silence next time you have the opportunity and basque in the now.

What is Your Nature

There are so many types of people: driven, focused, time-orientated, determined, excited, optimistic, pessimistic, passionate, selfish, ego-driven, lazy, depressed, fatigued, sad, emotional, likeable, compassionate, loving, soft, intelligent, empathetic, flexible etc etc.

You get the idea, which nature describes you? I often think what I see in my nature and I like to say that punctual, passionate, emtional, and empathetic comes to mind. Without going in deep analysis here we all see ourselves a certain way. This can change day to day, however if you are generally optimistic then you know that about yourself, the glass is always half full. Or if you are lacking energy and vitality, and feel run down, then fatigued and depressed maybe your dominant way of being.

Just like a forumula one racing car, you need to service and take good care of what is under the bonnet and the exterior. Getting taken care of constantly, to perform at your peak state. Why you wouldn't drive the car with the incorrect tyres now would you? So why do so many people walk around in the wrong, inappropriate footware? Or if you put too much fuel at a pit-stop you would run too loaded for the rest of the race and you wouldn't be performing optimally. People do this all the time, they eat too much in one sitting and wonder why they feel lethargic and tired in the evenings!

Your nature as a predisposition, so what is it? Have a session with a coach and find out. After all we are all in this wonderful world and part of the human race, so live to your abilities, stretch yourself and get to a new personal best.

All Or Nothing

Yesterday I was chatting with a client, we were discussing attitudes towards exercise, you know it is good for you and you need physical exercise, but you still do not do it. It is as if you have deep grooved habits to come home, eat carbs, sugary foods and do more work. This is not a balanced lifestyle yet consciously you know that.

Unconsciously however you sabotage yourself, with , its too hard, I will not ever be super fit, slim or pretty so why bother? All or nothing thinking. Not very empowering to be in this situation. You need to take one step at a time and be present when eating, knowing what you are doing to your body, and not thinking about the future or the past. Being mindful

So as our session drew to a close she got some awareness and what to look out for before our next session, being aware of situations, being in the NOW, and taking small steps towards her ultimate goal, to have a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

Coaches are great for helping you get there, we are on your team and will shine the torch on those areas you have overlooked, it is just awareness after all.

Frustration

Frustrations just build up, until something happens, something small and insignificant, and that pushes you off the edge and then you explode.

Yes, that was the kind of day I had yesterday, to be brutally honest. I was coping very well so I thought, got on with my day, in my neutral state. No dramas, just peace and tranquility. Then as the day progressed, I forced myself to do something that in hindsight I should have left well alone, I felt pressured to do it, even if I wasn't competent in that task.

Oh boy did that mistake escalate, one hour later I was on the verge of tears, nothing I could do to salvage it, and I needed to be elsewhere, and I am never late. So that compounded to my mistake and when I finally left, disappointed with myself. I waited for the bus.. the hot tears then came, and came..

Two hours later I was still crying, as I went down the spiral of negative thoughts, the ones that challenge the core of you, yes those ones, I got such a heavy feeling in my heart, it was so painful, as I fed my negative emotions, as they grew and took a life of their own.

Only when my husband stopped me, did I calm down, geez that took a while.

When you bottle things up, eventually this pressure with surface and explode, the only way for it to release is up, so when you least expect it, be prepared for the explosion. Let it go, scream, cry be emotional, you need this release.

For whatever reason, out of your frustrations come the calming notion that all is ok, and that you will get over it, you get perspective and you become the positive person you were that morning.

Accomplishments

When do you know you have hit your goal post? You are just driven, have laser beam focus towards your goal. So when do you know you have hit it? You read back your goal in your office and realise that this day came and went. Your goal became reality.

Today a client of mine just got that awareness. He touched his post with a big wonderful thud. I said ' wow you have reduced your bad debt by half! and have saved over 1.5k in savings, wonderful ' These were his goals and during our coaching relationship he also improved is career and is in alignment with is values. He gives more to himself and is really focused on his inner health. Complete awareness. He lives his life on purpose and knows what is important to him, a year ago he was just following the rest of the sheep trying to keep up, and suffering along the way.

A proud moment for sure, as I feel he has come such a long way and in reflection so has he. So recognise your accomplishments. Own them and then go..

" what's next?"

Committment

There are so many different types of committment, to your partner, to your community, to your parents and most importantly to yourself.

What are you committed to? When you get committed you get tested, that is certain. So expect a few hurdles as they are just signposts to show you that you are getting closer to your goals. This weekend, as I hit one of these signposts, ouch as I recalled why I had embarked on this journey. And 4 years on, the 'pros' far outweight the 'cons' on my ageing list. So in my heart and in my body I have to continue, quitting is not an option. In fact, I am surprised at my reaction, very controlled and in tune to my natural rhythm, just a little bump on the road, is my only comment.

Committment makes you stronger and gives you passion, gives you the reason WHY you embarked on it in the first place, gives you the reason to get up in the mornings, well this is what it does for me.

Committment is a long road too, only you know HOW much it means to you, to have it and to know you are worthy of the prize.

Never loose sight of that prize.

I certainty won't!

De Clutter

Take a good look around your desk, is it messy and untidy? Mine is at the moment and I feel cramped and edgy. I know if this place was tidy and organised my thoughts would be too.

I am sure many people can relate to this, it maybe our wardrobes need a clean out, our kitchen cupboards, old storage you name it, it can always be tidier and more streamlined.

If we can simply this at home and in our work area imagine how free we could be? Not spending wasted time and energy of trying to find that piece of paper!

It really bothers me sometimes, but I guess it is my mess to clean up. I take responsibility for my untidy workstation, can I blame my husband too?

Funny it would be so easy to play that blame game, however this just stifts the energy and doesn't create a harmonious, tidy office now does it?

So my homework is to clean this paper trail, to tidy the clutter and free my space.

Square Peg in a Round hole

I can feel the frustrations at the moment in our business, we clearly want to do one thing however we are being challenged by technology. You see no matter how good your intentions are sometimes, outside forces influence your decision and you can react:

1) become more set in your ways and find a solution no matter the cost

2) go with the flow and adapt to the new solution and compromise

That is it, compromise, when can you allow this when you know 100% the other way is better and it has been proven, tested and operating. So why change it?

I think Microsoft the powerhouse of information technology, is completely driven by the dollar, what was wrong with XP Pro? My husband wants to know.

Now we find ourselves attempting to fit in a square peg in a round hole and it is most challenging to say the least.

In life we get this sometimes, we are happily on our way, not being a distrubance, and WHAM we get a huge roadblock. These roadblocks represent many things in our lives it can be work, relationships, the way we see the world. And as we are in damage mode trying to fix the issue, all other time-lines go out the window, literally.

So take time to reflect on your priorities, regroup and focus on just seeing this immediate challenge through, and NEVER NEVER give up on your goals, this is just a hurdle and the roadblock will soon, disengage to make us even more stronger and determined that we believe in our mission.

I just wish we were there already, but then again patience has never been my strong suit!