We ate at one of our favorite lunch spots the other day. The reasons that we like this place in particular is that they serve great home-style food, have friendly service and are very reasonably priced.
And because we eat there often, our expectations are pretty high each time we visit. Because we are now “regulars,” we look for the staff and owners to not only maintain the level of excellence to which we are accustomed, but to also go beyond the ordinary and exceed our expectations!
But when you keep raising the bar higher and higher, the chances are that at some point you will miss the jump. Maybe it was just a bad day, but the last time we ate there we were disappointed. Perhaps they had problems with equipment or employees, or maybe it was the fact that our expectations were just too high.
The same thing applies to OUR businesses. While we strive to provide service beyond what is expected, there will be times when we fall short. It doesn’t mean that we are lazy or uncaring, it’s just that we have stretched ourselves too thin and that while our spirits may be willing, the actual constraints of time and other resources may preclude us from a record breaking performance.
It happens to the best of us. We just have to get up, dust ourselves off, and get ready for the next jump!
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What a really good analogy. We don't have to go out and revamp what we are doing due to one bad day. But we do have to get back on the horse.
Richard, first of all, love the photo! And yes, when we are working alone it is very difficult the busier we get to do everything that we want to do. Sometimes you just have a bad day.
Thanks for those pearls of wisdom Richard, sometimes you do spread yourself too thin and mess up. When we do, we are pretty hard on ourselves.
Thanks also to Don's comment as well, dusting off right now...
This is a great analogy. Sometimes my clients think that my level of response is always going to be immediate. I have to train them that I have a life too. Can't seem to want to lower their expectations!
Richard.....blunders usually happen when people are stretched to their limit.....we each have a limit and to attempt to exceed that will lead to error.....that's another reason that teams work.....with a team, one can handle more business which will lead to more production and more recognition...this all leads to more income and more future business.....it's a cycle and it takes a village to accomplish!!
Another good illustration. Not only do our customers raise the bar, sometime we raise our own expectations beyond where we can reach today!
Don...
We sure do my friend, and thanks!
Andrea...
And it's no more than that. Also, we should be more forgiving if we expect to be forgiven. THX
A & P...
We have all been there and done that! Thanks.
We all have bad hair days. Thank God the sun will come out tomorrow so we can try again.
This is a great analogy. I think what's important is to recognize that you may have fallen short and try to shift things around so that you don't end up there again. Also, you definitely need to forgive yourself. We can't all be perfect all the time.
Hi Richard,
This is a great analogy! Of course the photo is perfect (I wouldn't expect anything less from you). Raising the bar is a good thing but we are human and humans make mistakes. Recognizing and taking responsibility for them and moving on is the only way to handle when we fall short.
Very well said and great analogy. I often have to watch it and not over promise. The saying "underpromise and over deliver." is great but.......even in that there is a fine line that you don't underpromise too much and not get the business. Love this blog. Thank you
Hi Richard. All we can do is out best...
Keep pushing the bar higher,
Ken
Richard: We all have bad days and miss certain people's exepctations, I'm sure. It's exhausting to do our jobs, especially when we have to be so vigilant about every little thing we say and do.
Richard,
So true....sometimes we just don't have any thing left to give...we must remember to cut ourselves some slack...
Richard - I remember the Ed Sullivan show (i'm dating myself)...where the guy had plates spinning on a sticks. Everyone was amazed how many he could keep going. You just knew one would hit the floor. I can still keep quite a few plates spinning, However... I still grimace when one hits the floor
Richard...sometimes we set ourselves and others up for failure in our expectations. You are right about needing to be better.
Your post spoke to me today. I'm that person who continually want to raise the bar and to push my limits, to see how far I could go. I'm starting to feel the effects of it.
No matter who you are or how good you are, you will have an off day and you will make mistakes. I like to raise the bar as often as I can, but I know what I can realistically accomplish.