"How much we can impress and move our customers."

Hello.
Aoyagi here.

November is here, and with it, the chaotic season of year-end rush.

When things get hectic, we sometimes just go through the motions, and lose sight of what's important.

I'm writing this column to remind myself of that very thing.





That moment when you make someone happy really is a wonderful feeling.

Just hearing "thank you" makes all the tiredness melt away.

I think this is ultimately the essence of work and human relationships.



So, how can we increase the number of "thank yous"?

I believe there are two main ways.





First, how much can we ourselves notice the "thank yous" in everyday life?

Hidden within what we consider "obvious" are many "thank yous."



・A "thank you" to the person who held the elevator door open for you.

・A "thank you" when you were on the train with your child, and someone moved over to let you sit together.

・A "thank you" to the convenience store clerk who slightly opened the mouth of the plastic bag to make it easier for you when you asked for one.



The more you notice these small acts of gratitude, the sharper your "antenna for感動 (deep emotion/inspiration)" becomes, I feel.

How much "感動 (deep emotion/inspiration)" can you experience in everyday life?

That, I believe, becomes the source of your power to inspire others.





Second, recognizing the "true desire" of what the other person really wants.

For example, imagine you're asked at work to "buy a drill because I want to make a 1cm diameter hole in the wall."

If you buy the drill as requested, that's certainly correct.

But then, take it a step further and think, "Why do they want to make a hole?"

If you ask, you might find out the reason is they want to hang a decoration on the wall.

If that's the case, you might be able to suggest, "There are ways to hang decorations without drilling holes in the wall."


Furthermore, if the reason for the decoration is "because a special guest is coming," then you can consider the overall presentation of the room and even how the entrance is displayed.

If they're coming by car that day, you can arrange parking; if by train, you can pick them up at the station.

Even for the same "request," if you can imagine the other person's background and feelings, the "thank you" will be many times greater.

And that "感動 (deep emotion/inspiration)" will reach the customer beyond them.



"How much can you be inspired, and how much can you inspire others?"



I was reminded once again that I want to keep this feeling in mind, especially during busy times.


Thank you to everyone who always reads my column!