I found a very inspiring, touching and encouraging true story that are relevant with our youth camp theme “Making A Difference”, and would like to share with everyone out there. It is “The Simple Truth of Service”
THE SIMPLE TRUTH OF SERVICE
This is a true story as told by Barbara Glanz, CSP
A few years ago, I was hired by a large supermarket chain to lead a customer service program, to build customers loyalty. During my speech I said : “ Everyone of you can make a difference and create memories for your customers that will motivate them to come back. How? Put your personal signature on the job. Think about something you can do for your customer to make them feel special, a memory that will make them come back.”
About a month after I had spoken, I receive a call from a nineteen year old bagger named Johnny. He proudly informed me that he was a Down Syndrome individual and told me his story.
“I like what you talked about” he said, “But at first I though I couldn’t do anything special for our customers. After all I am just a bagger.” “Then I had an idea!” said Johnny “Every night after work I’ve come home and find a thought for the day. If I can’t find a saying I like” He added “I just think one up”
When Johnny had a good thought for the day, his dad helped him set it up on the computer and print multiple copies. Johnny cut out each quote and signed his name on the back. Then he brings them to work the next day. “When I finish bagging someone’s groceries, I put my thought for the day inside their beg and say thanks for shopping with us”
It touches me to think that this young man with a job most people would say not important had made it important by creating precious memories for all his customers. A month later the store manager called me ….. “You wouldn’t believe what happened. When I was making my rounds today, I found Johnny’s checkout line was three times longer than anyone else’s! It went all the way down to the frozen food aisle. So I quickly announce, ‘We need more cashiers; get more lanes open!’ As I tried to get more people to change lanes, but no one would come. They said ‘its okay, we want to be in Johnny’s lane, we want his thought for the day’
The store manager continued, “It was a joy to watch Johnny delight the customers. I got a lump in my throat when one woman said ‘I used to shop at your store once a week, but now I come in every time I go by, because I want to get Johnny’s Thought for the day.’
A few months later, the manager called me up again….. “Johnny had transformed our store, now when the floral department has a broken flower or unused corsage; they find an elderly lady or a little girl and pin it on them. Everyone’s having a lot of fun creating memories, our customers are talking about us, and they are coming back, and bringing their friends.”
A wonder spirit of service spread throughout the entire store…. All because of Johnny choose to make a difference!
Johnny’s wasn’t nearly as innovative, as it was loving, it came from his heart, it was real. That’s what touches his customers, his peers…. And those who read this story. Great service comes from great heart…..
WILL YOU BE A JOHNNY TODAY?
The highlight of this story is about Johnny, a nineteen year old Down Syndrome, who only work as a bagger, yet able to touch life and make a big difference for the supermarket. All this is because of his service that came from his heart.
After reading this true story, I was amaze and I learned a few things from this meaningful story.
Johnny was a down syndrome, yet nothing stops him from touching the life of others.
His sincerity not only touches the life of his customer, but his peer was also making a difference because of what Johnny did. Customers come back more frequent and they bring their friend along.
Now if each one of us as a Christian would have the sincerity and the love that was displayed by Johnny, imagine how we could make a different in this world.
Now just imagine that the supermarket was our church, the customers were our unbeliever friends and the peers were our brothers and sisters in Christ. Wouldn’t it be great if we could have an impact in the world? Wouldn’t it be great if people were able to see Christ in us and come to know the Lord? Wouldn’t it be great if people felt warm and welcome when they come to our church? Wouldn’t it be great to see people coming back to our church and bringing friends along? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to set a good example and motivate our brothers and sisters in Christ?
As written in the story above “Johnny action was not as innovative as others, but it was the love that comes from the bottom of his heart and it was real” If Johnny a down syndrome could do that, then how difficult could it be for us to serve others? All we have to do is to display the love of God to others and serve them with a sincere heart.
So fellow brothers and sisters now’s the time we ask our self the question “Would you be a Johnny today?” , let us not forget what we learn in camp and continues to Make A Difference 4 Jesus.
~~Keng Lik~~
