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COFFEE_AND_A_TIP
| COFFEE AND A TIP
COFFEE AND A TIP
One of the challenges of multi-career marriages is allotting
time for the family and for each other. Some years ago, Sherry
and I began to realize this and decided to take steps to insure
“our time” every day. So, we began going to a convenient place
in the evening just to have coffee and to visit.
We found it a bit amusing (and a compliment to our 35-year
marriage) when some of the staff at one restaurant thought we
were having an affair because we would often arrive in separate
cars.
One of the places we enjoy coffee and dessert is the Menger
Hotel. Not only is it a beautiful place, but also their coffee
is some of the smoothest.
I remember one particular evening at the Menger. After our
waiter brought our check and walked away with my $20, I
commented to Sherry that I had forgotten to have him bring me
plenty of one dollar bills. I knew that after the tip I would
still need money for school lunches the next morning.
We decided to see if the waiter knew his stuff. If, on our $10
check, he brought back two fives or a ten dollar bill, we would
know he was not on the ball. He did not disappoint us. He
brought me plenty of ones and we, in turn, were generous with
our tip.
Since a large part of a barber’s income is from tips, I learned
this lesson about making change a long time ago. Certainly, a
person ought to get the same quality service whether he chooses
to tip or not. That’s a personal decision. But, if a person
wants to tip, he shouldn’t be inconvenienced by having to ask
for change.
Along this line, I’m constantly amazed at how some folks in
business never “get it” on this point. Whether it involves
tipping, being seated, paying, or any other aspect of doing
business, it needs to be easy, convenient and uncomplicated for
the customer. The benefit to those in business is that we’ll
probably have more business and make more money.
But, there is another benefit. It is the satisfaction of knowing
one is a true professional who treats others as he/she wants to
be treated. Such an approach is almost irresistible in business,
in relationships – and in marriages.
BARBER-OSOPHY: Always seek to make life a little easier for
others.
Copyright 2004, Sumerlin Enterprises.
Permission is granted for you to copy this article for
distribution as long as the above copyright and contact
information is included. Please reference or include a link to
www.barber-osophy.com.
About the author:
Terry L. Sumerlin, known as the Barber-osopher, is the author of
"Barber-osophy," is a columnist for the San Antonio Business
Journal and speaks nationally as a humorist/motivational
speaker.
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