"Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health and is as friendly to the mind as to the body." ~ Joseph Addison, English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, and Politician, 1672-1719

Good. You found the station once again, so welcome to where we find ourselves already busy working on a brand new day, Thursday, February 6, 2014. I think we all enjoy friendly service. The place where the wife and I get our medical care has some very bright eyed and bushy tailed folks who are very welcoming. I'm not just talking about the reception area people, it's pretty much everyone. Big smiles. Hello, how are you today? It's like they all attended the same how-to-be-friendly seminar. They make it enjoyable, to a point. I'm not a big fan of finding some little something to bring up so we can chit chat for a few seconds especially with folks who are mostly getting the arrangements made for me to take care of my business. I will, however, engage in the conversation and go along for the ride, but it's not my natural inclination to do so. I wouldn't dare not participate. They are just too nice. That's likely the point of the training. It works. And, yes, that is a brand new Medicare Advantage card I'm using, and yes, now that you mention it, I too think it looks really sharp. Hello? Beam me up Scotty at your earliest convenience!

I hope you know I'm mostly exaggerating, because given a choice, I think we all would prefer a little over the top friendliness to the potential alternative. When I said it works, they can prove it. This particular medical provider has the only 5 Star rating for Medicare related services delivery within the Houston metroplex. They also are rated number one in a large number of specialty categories. Paying attention to and taking care of your customer always pays off. Back when I ran a large service program, our emphasis was on professionalism and continuity. As a result, I also know what it means to be recognized for having a highly effective service program. But, here's something that many people may not have known. When you provide that kind of professional service on a consistent basis, it not only works on those providing the service but we discovered it also worked on those receiving the service. Over time we were able to experience gains in productivity and excellence from everyone involved. This is not the norm in the majority of businesses today and why it is not recognized and pursued is hard for me to understand. Very hard indeed.

In one way or the other it really is a back to the Bible approach to life. An example is how one can take the teachings recorded primarily by Solomon in the Proverbs and find the keys to providing effective labor, products, and services in a way that honors God and helps one to be successful in life. Things like planning, hard work, honesty, integrity, and diligence are all components that combine into the way a business can function under God's direction. There are dozens of verses throughout the Bible that deal with these matters. Jesus also had a pretty powerful underlying principle for us all to follow in our personal lives as well as in all endeavors in life. It's often called the Golden Rule, Matthew 7:12 - "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Also in Luke 6:31 - "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." It really is the foundation of how to treat others, yes, even our customers. (They are others too!) Okay class, that ends today's lecture but be sure in tune in next time where you can be certain it will be something that reflects The View From Here. Take care and may God add His blessings to our efforts each day. Amen.   ....More later.