Created Memories that Endure
By: Rick Boxx
Last year I was coordinating a conference for business and professional people, and one of our speakers was Peter Herschend, co-founder of Silver Dollar City, a recreational theme park located in Branson, Missouri, U.S.A. As we were arranging the microphone that Peter would be using for his presentation, a man from our audience walked up to the podium and handed him a small gift.
Having a listener from the audience approach with a gift was highly unusual, especially before the presentation. So with surprise and a bit of hesitation, Peter opened the box. It was a photo album containing colorful pictures of characters and employees at Silver Dollar City.
The giver explained this album represented the memories his family had accumulated over numerous years of attending Peter’s entertainment center. The photos were a token of the family’s appreciation for the many happy moments they had enjoyed and would always have as treasured memories.
As it turned out, the gesture fit perfectly with Peter’s talk on his company’s mission, “Creating Memories Worth Repeating.” Ironically, the kindness of the guest at our conference produced a lasting memory for our speaker.
Should this not be a primary goal for all of our businesses, no matter what product or service we provide – to create memories worth repeating? The job we do may not result in entertaining photographs. But our work should still be of such quality that it forms positive mental images, ones that linger through the passage of time.
For example, a patron at a coffee shop might hold memories of pleasant aromas and flavors of the local brew, along with friendly service and interesting conversation. Customers at a retail store may remember the courteous and attentive response of salespersons that were eager to guide them to exactly what they were looking for. A client might hold lasting appreciation for the efforts of a financial planner to address practical matters that did not necessarily generate additional income for the advisor.
Admittedly, an entertaining experience – such as a visit a theme park like Silver Dollar City or attendance at a sporting event – might lend itself more easily to enduring memories, but a grocery store where the cashiers routinely greet customers with smiles and pleasant greetings can be meaningful as well. Whatever our product or service might be, it would be wise to create an environment that, after the customers, clients and suppliers have worked with us, they leave with the conclusion, “I’m glad I did business with them.”
In the Old Testament of the Bible, Proverbs 10:7 teaches, “The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.” Good experiences leave lasting memories; bad experiences are either intentionally forgotten or leave negative, even bitter feelings that ensure the customers will not be returning to do business with us.
Will the memories you create for your customers today become a blessing – or will they perish?
Until next week!
Copyright 2010, Integrity Resource Center, Inc. Adapted with permission from “Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx,” a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. To learn more about Integrity Resource Center or to sign up for Rick’s daily Integrity Moments, visit www.integrityresource.org.
© MONDAY MANNA is a weekly issue of CBMC INTERNATIONAL a non-profit, evangelical ministry that exists to serve business and professional people as followers of Jesus; to present Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to business and professional men.
