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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Do We Settle?

In America, we say we have a culture of creating a great customer experience.  You hear about it a lot. Working at a church, the importance of first impressions is sometimes very weighty.  People are quick to leave a church when it doesn’t feel right to them. After all, there are tons of other options. It’s imperative that we make a great first impression on our guests.


Our culture is an interesting thing. We say one thing, but yet settle for something totally different.  I believe that we are in a precarious time in society.  Are we settling for mediocrity? The real questions I have to ask is, “Do I settle?”  My family went to the movie yesterday. After paying $67 for the movie and popcorn, I began to take in my surroundings a little:  the broken lights in ¾ of the concession signs, the filthy tile, the lifeless staff, and the carpet that I wouldn’t touch with my bare feet.  I couldn’t believe that a business that extracted so much money from me would operate in such a shabby manner.  Then I looked around me. Was I the only one who saw this? Did anyone else notice the popcorn that cluttered the nasty carpet?  Were they annoyed as I was with the lack of respect or honor for my patronage?  However, it was not the first time I went to this theater. It was not like I wasn’t aware of how this particular business operated.  So the question I had to ask was why was I there?  Why did I return and give them my hard earned money?  I had to admit that I settled for their mediocrity. 

I have just finished reading a book on Steve Jobs. Now that man had some issues, but one of the things that I have taken away from his life is his pursuit of excellence.  If I want to achieve great things, mediocrity is not even part of my equation.  I have decided not to settle: not in a business that I visit, not in my work I produce, nor in the way I conduct my relationships.  I invite you to join me.  Don’t settle anymore.  It’s time to expect greatness out of ourselves and others.

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