Jan
10

Surpass Expectations–Always

Haja on January 10th, 2012

“It’s never crowded along the extra mile.”

WAYNE DYER

 

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Have you been to a Nordstrom before?  I had not till I read about it in a book a year back.  I read that Nordstrom’s staff provides extra-ordinary service and some great stories to back it up.   I was truly intrigued.

Did I look it up when I was in the US and visit.

You bet, I did!

Why?

To experience the support everyone raves about.  And why do they do that?

Because they want to.

Surpassing expectation is something you should build into your DNA.  Anything you do with your clients, your colleagues, your friends, your family – is an opportunity to set and surpass expectations. 

Leave that WOW feeling behind – and they will remember the experience a lot longer than they may remember the occasion.

Make a commitment today, to be world class- irrespective of what you do.   Every job you do, gives you an opportunity to do something world-class, to make a difference. 

What would you accomplish if you were willing to go the extra mile, put in that extra effort and a little bit more service? 

Think of the super market where you look for a cashier who is more enthusiastic than the one who is grumpy…  the extra effort from the happier cashier always pays off – and he or she does not do it because they get paid more – it is because they choose to!

Start surpassing expectations – start with one now!

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Jan
10

New Theme

Haja on January 10th, 2012

I changed the blog name!

I have been talking to so many people over the last few months and I realize, there is a big gap in skills that people bring to the table.  Whilst many come with excellent educational qualifications, it is the small ideas that is amiss, to ensure they achieve their potential.

While I have been writing on this topic in different forms over the years, I wanted to make this more targeted and help people pick this up in their search to come & see some tips that could help them become better.

I also promise to put up some free tools that you can download to effectively use the power of working together & giving back to the world.

Tomorrow’s topic- GOALS! 

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Jan
10

Take up the Responsibility!

Haja on January 10th, 2012

“Ninety Nine percent of all failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses”

George Washington Carver

Think about it. How many of us are culprits when it comes to making excuses. Blaming others for being the cause of all the issues we face! There are always reasons everyone has, about why they have not been as successful as they imagine themselves to be. 

However, to be successful, the first rule you need to follow is to be 100% Responsible! – for yourself. 

If something goes wrong, as it will many many times, ask yourself – “How did this happen? What were the things that went wrong? Where did they go wrong? How could I have made the difference there? What do I need to do differently next time to get the results I want?”

In a discussion with my manager, I had this interesting dialogue. 

We were discussing issues with a particular customer, and I was explaining all the challenges they were facing and why even if we were keen to commit the numbers that we will sell, it was going to be a challenge!  His point was interesting. He said “What happens in the market is fine- but what is relevant is about what you are doing about it? Are you waiting for things to happen OR are you going out and finding how you can fix it”.   Though it was unpleasant, it was real!  I was blaming the world and the economy for something that I should have been proactively addressing!  Rather than come with just a problem,I should have had a menu of solutions that we could have discussed better!

In your everyday life, think of the issue you are facing- and rather than blame someone around you- think about what you are doing about it!

Let us focus on being 100% responsible this year!

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Dec
14

Have you left your MARK?

Haja on December 14th, 2011

With a look bordering on panic, Weatherhead School of Management Professor Richard Boland Jr. watched as Matt Fineout, an architect with Gehry & Associates, casually tore up the plans for a new building.

image Boland and Fineout had been struggling for two full days to remove some 5,500 Square feet from the floor plan designed by star architect Frank Gehry, while leaving  groom needed for meeting spaces and office equipment.

At the end of the marathon planning session, Boland had breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s finally done,” he thought.  But at that moment, Fineout rose from his chair, ripped the document apart and threw the scraps into a trash bin.

He responded to Prof. Boland’s shocked expression with a gentle shrug and a soft remark- “We have shown WE can do it; now we need to think of HOW we want to do it”.

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This is a fantastic  example of how some companies and some successful people go about creating magic in what they do.

For them, it is not about just doing a job! It is about leaving their mark! 

Every time you start a project, think not just about the outcome – but think about how you will leave your mark!

Think of every project you have done over the last couple of weeks-

  1. List out if there is anything you could have done differently
  2. What would you have done to evoke a “WOW” from your readers, bosses, colleagues?
  3. Now look at your current project.  What are you doing about it? What can you do differently!
  4. Just do it for the current project. Look for the changed feedback!  

 

 

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Oct
15

Do your own thing!

Haja on October 15th, 2011

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