Service is key to successful living. We bless the lives of others through service, and by doing so, we bless our own lives. To become proficient in doing service, we must learn to be outward focused! It is natural to be focused inward, but it is when we train ourselves to be outwardly focused that we are the most successful!
Have you been in a purchasing situation during which you felt “sold”? How did that feel? Good or bad? Did you like it? Of course not! Nobody wants to be sold.
On the other hand, have you been in a purchasing situation in which you felt served? How did that feel? Good or bad? Did you like it? Of course you did! Everyone loves being served.
Nobody wants to feel sold, yet everyone wants to feel served! So that is proof that we should be outwardly focused.
Many years ago my husband and I flew to Arizona to purchase a motorhome. We were ecstatic! It was just three years old, top of the line, more extravagant and bigger than any of the motorhomes we had previously owned. As we were driving it back to Utah, we pulled into a gas station in Beaver. We observed as one of the service technicians from the shop watched us pull in and immediately came out to “help us” fuel up our motorhome. Even though this was NOT his job, we thanked him and gave him a generous tip.
As soon as we had tipped him, he began telling us that we needed shocks on our motorhome and we would not even make it to Salt Lake City without new ones, and some other things that he felt were urgent items that must be repaired. Keep in mind that we owned our own Mobile Mechanic Business. My husband was an ASE Certified mechanic. We KNEW we were being SOLD! We were pretty upset at how this technician was handling the situation and felt attacked.
During the 20 years since that situation, we have never used that gas station again. It was an immediate turn off. It resulted in us deciding, “Avoid this place if at all possible!” We have spent thousands of dollars in fuel in Beaver since that day and none of it was spent at that gas station. SOLD not SERVED?
What I have learned is that you cannot feel sold and served at the same time. Served will always be the one that is stronger.
Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
In my book, The BASICS – 7 Traits to CHANGE Your Life & Your World, one of the traits that I teach is SHOW Sincere Service. I teach that there are two types of service: Simple Service and Sincere Service. Let me explain what I mean by placing all service in these two categories. First is Simple Service: This is something that we do daily. It is expected, even required. We have signed up for this. Every person does some kind of simple service. Let me give you some examples:
you choose to be in a relationship such as marriage, which means you choose to serve that person regularly. You choose to be a parent, so you have chosen to serve that child for the rest of your life! You sign up or agree to take a community or church position or be on a committee. It will come with service. Or you have accepted a job, and it comes with a considerable amount of service in working with co-workers, as well as customer service! Simple service can often be associated with the following feelings:
- Obligated
- Guilt
- Feel it is required
- Can create stress
- Tiring
Second is Sincere Service: Sincere Service is service that you feel deep within your heart. You are changed by performing this service and are a better person for having done it. It raises your
character. It is defined by superior service to others. It is doing something for someone else that they
cannot do for themselves. It is treating a customer with excellence because it is what is best for them—it is in their best interest. It is putting our own interests or agendas aside. It is showing gratitude for your client because you genuinely do care about them. It is being genuinely happy for others’ success. Sincere Service can result in the following:
- Raises your character
- Moves you forward
- What you put out you get back, multiplied
- Creates Abundance
- Builds relationships
- Creates Loyalty
- Gains Respect
Isn’t this what we all want?
Albert Einstein said; “Only a life lived in the service of others is worth living.” This is so true! Who likes to be around someone who is always complaining or always has it worse than we do?
One of the easiest ways to up-level in this area quickly is to ask yourself good questions every day: “Who can I serve today? What can I do? How can I Change Someone’s life today?”
As you focus on Sincere Service the personal benefits are incredible, but also consider the business, work or corporation benefits also! You will:
- Build Relationships and Connection
- Create Abundance
- Make your challenges and trials easier
- Gain Loyalty and gain Customers for life
- Get Referrals
- Increase Sales
Service truly is a game changer. It is easy to do and immediately changes your life. How can you shift into Sincere Service right now to create the life you want?
“It’s the little things we do on a consistent basis that ultimately change our lives!” ~Kris Barney