August 2003
In This Issue:
The Best Way to
Get What You Want
Last month, I gave a colleague two referrals and helped her create a proposal for one of the potential clients. She insisted on paying me for my consulting time; I insisted that she was nuts. We saw each other at a committee meeting a week later, and she slipped what looked like a thank-you note into my overstuffed hands. I put the note into my purse and didn’t have time to open it until after I returned to my office. Inside was indeed a thank-you note, but also a $100 gift certificate to Ruth’s Chris Steak House. She truly overwhelmed me with her generosity. When my husband, Steve, got home that night, I excitedly told him about this gesture. He sat back and said, “That is really weird.” You see, late last year—right before the holidays—he had received a $100 gift certificate to Ruth’s Chris from a grateful vendor. At the same time, he had been looking for a way to reward one of the hardworking employees on his staff. Any gift of more than $25 would require lots of paperwork and red tape. So Steve decided to give the employee his Ruth’s Chris gift certificate. And there’s more . . . Two weeks ago, my husband and I went to Ruth’s Chris. Our bill, including tip, was about $50 over the amount of the gift certificate, so we also included a credit card when we gave the bill back to the waiter. When the waiter returned, he said that the gift certificate had covered the entire bill—their system showed that its value was $200! The next day, I checked with the person who had given it to me and she confirmed that she was not charged for the extra amount.
It is just luck? I think not. It’s really the law of karma at work: we get back what we give. And we weren’t giving it to entice a new client to use our services, to get “one-up” on a competitor or to persuade someone to support our cause. We all came from a sincere position of service and appreciation. And that, my friends, is one powerful mix. In any type of business, there is no better way to get what you want than by giving it to someone else. That might mean lending your expertise, offering an encouraging word, passing on referrals, showing appreciation or sharing a compliment. You’ll be rewarded with more than just a great meal. You’ll pave the way for a solid business network, a motivated and loyal staff, strong partnerships—and so much more!
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