Night out with a friend

Okay, so I am out with a bud of mine at a restaurant that he frequents. Usually it is the 10PM to 2AM time frame for him. I don’t usually stay out that late. We are there at about 6PM, just before the dinner rush starts.

When the waitress walks up to the table she looks a bit harried. When she asks what we would like to drink I tell her ’sweet tea’. She says she will be right back with our drinks. Then I look directly at her, say her name (it’s on her nametag), and say “Take your time, but bring them with a smile.” When she looks at me she smiles and I tap the table with my pen (which I had brought with me, and is laying next to a notepad on the table.)

When she comes back she is smiling broadly and as she places my tea in front of me, she smiles directly at me. I say, “Thank you Sherry.” Then I tap the table again with my pen while she is looking at me. I wait until she is turning to leave and say “Sherry, could I get a few extra napkins?” When she turns and looks at me, I smile and say “What a nice smile.” Her smile increases and I tap the table with my pen.

A moment later she comes back with a small stack of napkins and she is smiling. I say “Thank you, Sherry”, and smile at her. She smiles and I tap the table with my pen.

A few moments later she is walking by, on her way to another table, with their food. I tap my pen on the table and she smiles really big and continues on to take the other table their food. As soon as she has given them their food she comes straight to our table and smiles and asks if there is anything at all that she can do for us (while looking at me). I tell her we are fine and she looks just a little bit disappointed. I smile and say, “Thank you though, Sherry.” She smiles really big and I tap the table with my pen.

The rest of the 2 hours we are there I continue to tap the table any time she is near enough to hear it. Each time it produces a smile and she comes to the table to make sure we have everything we need.

Long story short (or is it too late for that?), she offers us free salad bar, gives us free deserts, and our drink glasses were never below half way down. And, to top it off, when we head out, she follows us to the door (which she did not do with any other patron) to tell us come back often.

Here’s the thing. We can use what we know to just ‘get what we want’ or we can use it to make the world around us a more pleasant place for ourselves and others. The first will give temporary pleasure. The second will give long term enjoyment for ourselves and others. Personally, I’ll take the long term.

Until next time…

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