Happy to See Me

Ok, here we go... My very first never before seen Blog!

Every morning I eat breakfast. I have to. If you know me then you know I am a VERY slender person. Since I was a little girl and my fellow elementary school mates were calling me "ethi" because they said I looked like I came from Ethiopia I have been very self-conscious about my weight. This is beside the point. Basically I eat breakfast every morning. I need the calories!

I am also a creature of habit, I like to do the same things, routines - I find peace in this. Yes I am that crazy person that walks up to the elevator, and even though the button has already been pushed by the other individual waiting for a lift, I still feel the compulsion to hit the button. It is my routine. Walk up to the elevator - Hit the button - Go for a ride. So it goes without saying that when I visit a restaurant I tend to order the same thing every time.

Most mornings I do one of three things: If I am particularly organized one morning and have allowed time for it I will make myself breakfast in my kitchen. If I am running behind I will run by Panara Bread on my way to work, or if I am really late I will grab something to eat in the work cafeteria.

Since I have an eight month old little boy - for the most part I am doing it Panara Style. Due to a dairy allergy my son has, the fact that I am nursing because he is allergic to all formula, and my compulsion for routine I always get a large orange juice & two pumpkin muffins (Yes two- I need the calories). There is a girl that works at my local Panara Bread in the mornings. She is so nice. She knows my name, she asks about my son, is always willing to check for dairy content if I for some reason do change my order, and genuinely seems happy to see me. She makes me want to stop at Panera in the morning.

I can't tell you how many times, I get into a kick where I will eat the same thing for lunch for a week, or will frequent the same establishment a few times a month wanting the same meal. My problem is when you do this- you are no longer a "stranger" to the person serving you. This is where they work, they go there every day because the have to. Often times my frequency is met with annoyance. "Oh goodness I have to help this customer again." I often times get strange glances or attitudes that say that they are simply annoyed to deal with me yet again. But not at Panara.

How often do we do this with our clients? People always say you are more polite to strangers than you are to your own family. Why is this, and do these same attitudes for the norm carry to our re-accruing clients? I have heard the saying over and over again "treat me like a prospect- not a client." Is this the same as treat me like a stranger not your mother?

This girl at Panera has made me feel comfortable in my own skin. Something as simple as what I want to order for breakfast is accepted and appreciated. She is Happy to See Me.

We should be doing this with all our clients, no matter how frequently they call with questions, you should receive them happily- Remember they are working with you because they chose to. Make them feel comfortable in their own skin; no matter if they are buying a muffin or a Health insurance plan. You want to project the attitude that you are happy to see them. Let me just say this, my mother went out and found a pumpkin muffin recipe for me so I could make my own muffins and save myself the $3.00 every morning; I still go to Panara - They are happy to see me.