New York City cabdriver Oleg Roitman says his nickname is “The Human Computer.” He asks his passengers – “Tell me the date of your birth and in less than a second I will tell you which day of the week you were born.” To prove that his answers are correct, he carries a book with calendars from 1900 to 2020. He says passengers often pay him double what the meter reads.
Studies show that waiters can boost their tips from 10 to 100 percent by doing any of the following:
- Lightly touching the customer
- Smiling at the customer
- Squatting next to the table
- Introducing themselves by name
- Thanking them for dining there
- Forecasting good weather
- Drawing a smiley face on the check
Joanne and I invite my Eagles Club coaching clients to stay at our Sanctuary (pictured) as part of the coaching experience. We share our morning tea and muffins with them and take them to dinner at some of our favorite restaurants. It’s enjoyable for us to include them in our lives as the next season of that client’s career is being developed – and that little difference creates a memorable and often life-changing experience.
What are you doing to create that “little difference” in your work and life? An advanced degree may do nothing to separate you from the crowd. But what could you do today to engage your customers, clients or co-workers in a way that they will never forget?