I have a grocery store conveniently located close to work. I stop in there from time-to-time to buy food for dinner or for that must have item. There is this one cashier, Patrick, who I love to see. In fact, I find myself always getting in line at his register. You know why? Customer service and attitude.
This guy lives and breathes attitude. In fact, I envision his Instagram looking like one big vision board. I have learned quickly that he has a script. Mind you, I am not using the word script to make anything about this man sound fake or contrived. No. He has created muscle memory for attitude. The minute you make eye contact with this cashier, he smiles from ear-to-ear and asks in a glorious, welcoming voice, “How are you today?” Of course, I answer reflexively with just, “I am well. How are you?” Hook, line, and sinker. He responds, “I am wonderful. I woke up today.”
Now, the first time I had heard him say this line to me, I may have been a little surprised and in fact, I most likely rolled my eyes a little because that answer seemed obvious. Dare I say corny. But when I stopped to look at him, I realized that he was sincere and I quickly learned, after many trips to the grocery store, that this was his mantra. It is always a great day because he woke up and gets to live it. Period.
Today, I stopped at Mr. Positive Pant’s grocery store. Guess what? I ended up in his checkout line. Big surprise. This time, I was ready. Or, so I thought. As I was anticipating his question on how I was doing today, he switches it up. He says, “V.I.P. You are in my V.I.P. line. Welcome. All V.I.P. today.” Huh? Did he just make me feel like I am a very important person because I just so happened to get in his line to pay for my groceries? Yes, he did. 😊
I knew that I wasn’t a V.I.P. (very important person). I was like everyone else around me buying some bread and an easy-prep dinner. However, he took the time to greet me in a way that said you are here and that is important. What if we felt like this as teachers? Can you imagine if your principal or boss greeted you as if you were an important person just because you were there? Now imagine what our students would feel with that kind of attitude. It reminds me of the teacher I saw on YouTube who greets his students every day with their own special handshake. Tell me those students don’t want to come in and learn because of their teacher’s attitude and recognition of his students.
As I was paying for my groceries, my man Patrick (a.k.a Mr. Positive Pants) asked me how I was doing today. I smiled. I got him. I said, “I woke up this morning.” He laughed. He knew I had heard his mantra before and responded back to me, “And, I was able to come here and see you.”
I see you and you are a very important person.
See You Real Soon,
Erin
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