I took my first trip to an Apple store this week. I wanted to share with you some of my experiences.
From the look of the place I was intrigued, I mean it just looked cool. The glass store front, the two humans waiting out front for you to walk in and be greeted, it just looked they were just waiting for me to walk in and ask some questions.
As I entered the lady at the front warmly greeted me and asked how she could help. I told her there was a small problem with my charger. She walked me to the back where another person waited with another apple product in his hand.
From this point, instead of just walking off the lady said, this gentleman will take care of you, and at any point you have a question or a problem with anything just ask to speak to a manager and a manager will come speak you. As she walked away I was kind of like, ok. I don't think I'll need a manager for my charger, but ok.
The gentleman who I was now talking to needed to know the reason I was there. I need to take a second and mention that this guy was not fixing any problems himself but mainly just directing traffic. And did I mention he was sweating. He was in an air conditioned room, working his tail off, sweating just getting people where they needed to be.
Once he realized it was a hardware problem he pointed. Another gentleman made eye contact with him and me and waved me over. He said that man will take care of you today. When I walked back to the fella I told him it was my first time in an Apple store. He commented briefly and started to take a look at my phone. He fixed the problem, handed me a charger and told me to have a good day.
I asked how much I owed him, and he told me nothing. Thanks for coming in today.
What? Chargers don't grow on trees. They cost money.
I told him that and he said, don't worry about it.
I was blown away. He is this international company with a small store inside a mall in the US and for a first time visitor bent over backwards just to make me feel good about being there.
Did I mention that I went on a Wednesday afternoon and it was packed? There was about 60 people in a small space?
That is the level of hospitality I expect from a hotel or restaurant, not a tech company. But Apple's isn't just a tech company, obviously. They are something different.
How many opportunities do we have on the other side of the coin like this? How many times, if we just look, could we surprise and delight someone is a special way? What type of company knocks your socks off like this?
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Help, I've fallen and I can't get up
If you have ever had back pain, then you know exactly what I am talking about.
There are few activities or medicines that actually remove in its' entirety the pain in the back. Such is the moments that I am living in now. I am hurting like I have never hurt before. I have played some football with some big strong men who have hit me very hard. I have had to date, five concussions. But back pain puts you in a different position. No pun intended.
Ok it was intended.
As I lay flat most of the day I have drawn some conclusions about what I can learn from back pain.
1. Dependency on others.
I cannot do this alone. I need help with most activities, primarily driving. I cannot sit upright for more than about 30 seconds without intense pain. So driving is pretty much out of the question. I instantly have moved from driver to passenger. Um, I have control issues and this ain't helping.
With most intense pain comes medication. I have to be reminded what time it is in order to keep the pain subdued.
2. Flexibility
It's definitely a pun at this point. This week I had some excellent plans. I had lined up meetings, and set up schedules so that I could make the most out of my time. Most of my plans have changed because I cannot tolerate the pain that it would take to drive myself places.
Dinner with the family had to change because I can't sit at a table like a normal human.
3. Seek help
I have brainstormed with every person that I have told about my back pain about the options. Who to talk to, who can I get medicine from, what are my options?
I know there might be some overkill on the analogy, but when life lines up a beautiful blog post, I'm going to bend over backwards to see it through. (I just had to get one more in.)
When has a physical constraint changed your daily activities? How did you learn to deal with the stress of change? What did you learn from pain?
There are few activities or medicines that actually remove in its' entirety the pain in the back. Such is the moments that I am living in now. I am hurting like I have never hurt before. I have played some football with some big strong men who have hit me very hard. I have had to date, five concussions. But back pain puts you in a different position. No pun intended.
Ok it was intended.
As I lay flat most of the day I have drawn some conclusions about what I can learn from back pain.
1. Dependency on others.
I cannot do this alone. I need help with most activities, primarily driving. I cannot sit upright for more than about 30 seconds without intense pain. So driving is pretty much out of the question. I instantly have moved from driver to passenger. Um, I have control issues and this ain't helping.
With most intense pain comes medication. I have to be reminded what time it is in order to keep the pain subdued.
2. Flexibility
It's definitely a pun at this point. This week I had some excellent plans. I had lined up meetings, and set up schedules so that I could make the most out of my time. Most of my plans have changed because I cannot tolerate the pain that it would take to drive myself places.
Dinner with the family had to change because I can't sit at a table like a normal human.
3. Seek help
I have brainstormed with every person that I have told about my back pain about the options. Who to talk to, who can I get medicine from, what are my options?
I know there might be some overkill on the analogy, but when life lines up a beautiful blog post, I'm going to bend over backwards to see it through. (I just had to get one more in.)
When has a physical constraint changed your daily activities? How did you learn to deal with the stress of change? What did you learn from pain?
The First Time I Met Truett
It was at Chick-fil-A LeaderCast 2011.
I had volunteered to help out with lunch. Two things I was told about lunch-we don't have enough people to help and we will be feeding a lot of people in a short amount of time.
Chick-fil-A has the incredible ability to do more with less than any group of people I have ever seen. We served 3600 meals in a hour and fifteen minutes. Overwhelmed would be the best word to describe how we felt when we finished.
We were told that after we got done working, we could go and listen to the afternoon speakers and walk around and such. The work experience was fine, but I wanted to listen to who was talking and hear what they were saying.
When the conference was over I said to myself, I bet Truett is here, let me see if I can't shake his hand while I'm here. I found a small crowd of people and realized it was Truett who was at the center of attention just saying hey to people.
I waited my turn and said my rehearsed line like I had practiced a million times in my head before that moment. I shook his hand and said, "You have no idea how easy you make my job, thank you for all you do." I will never forget his response.
"I'm sorry that I don't know the team members like I used to, it's people like you that keep me with a job."
The hair on the back of my neck stood up. I didn't know what to say. I think I sort of smiled and walked off. The rest of the memory is blurry at that point, but the meat of what was said has been engrained in my brain ever since.
How humble. How grateful of a man.
Have you ever met Truett Cathy? What was it like? Where were you? Do you have a favorite story about him? Have you read his books? Have you seen his car collection? Please share.
I had volunteered to help out with lunch. Two things I was told about lunch-we don't have enough people to help and we will be feeding a lot of people in a short amount of time.
Chick-fil-A has the incredible ability to do more with less than any group of people I have ever seen. We served 3600 meals in a hour and fifteen minutes. Overwhelmed would be the best word to describe how we felt when we finished.
We were told that after we got done working, we could go and listen to the afternoon speakers and walk around and such. The work experience was fine, but I wanted to listen to who was talking and hear what they were saying.
When the conference was over I said to myself, I bet Truett is here, let me see if I can't shake his hand while I'm here. I found a small crowd of people and realized it was Truett who was at the center of attention just saying hey to people.
I waited my turn and said my rehearsed line like I had practiced a million times in my head before that moment. I shook his hand and said, "You have no idea how easy you make my job, thank you for all you do." I will never forget his response.
"I'm sorry that I don't know the team members like I used to, it's people like you that keep me with a job."
The hair on the back of my neck stood up. I didn't know what to say. I think I sort of smiled and walked off. The rest of the memory is blurry at that point, but the meat of what was said has been engrained in my brain ever since.
How humble. How grateful of a man.
Have you ever met Truett Cathy? What was it like? Where were you? Do you have a favorite story about him? Have you read his books? Have you seen his car collection? Please share.
Monday, May 19, 2014
I'm a little tea pot
Short and stout. Here is my handle here is my spout. When I get all steamed up, here me shout. Tip me over and pour me out.
This Sunday I was with my family and friends at church. I held my niece, until she cried for her momma. I held another small family me never after she ran to me and didn't speak. I whole hands with my men friends and I hugged the old ladies.
And I was full.
Full of joy. Full of happiness. Just downright full. It's like I had Sunday lunch prior to church and I need to loosen the belt a notch or two.
When I moved from Atlanta to Tampa I didn't know what kind of lemons life would hand me.
One lemon was missing loved ones. That's a hard thing to handle without any family nearby. I've been home for three days and I'm still full.
There are good people everywhere. If you search, you will find. And in the words of my electronic mentor-Jim Rohn- in order to find, you must search.
I'm here to encourage you to keep searching until you find a spark that lights your fire.
When in your life have you been empty and then became full? What did it take? What did you have to struggle to overcome? Was there a book you read or a class you took that made the difference? I want to connect with you, and I hope you will answer.
Scouting, Part 3
The last thing I wanted to share about scouting was the Scout Oath.
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
I just realized how similar the phrases here are in my life's purpose. I didn't connect the dots until now because the time gap between when I repeated this phrase weekly and the day I wrote my life's purpose is a span of about 7 years.
I think it's fitting to share a phrase from the good book.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Scouting, Part 2
Scouting, take two.
As I look back on my scouting experience most of the highlights I can remember are moments wrapped up in learning. For about a stretch of four and a half to five years, I injured myself in some way on every campout we went on. About the time I finished scouting, I grew into my body and became less clumsy. I say less clumsy, because a bull in a China shop doesn't know any better.
I know there is a reason that First Aid is always one of the first topics covered, and I am that reason.
Another learning scenario would be rank advancements. One of the powerful tools scouting has to offer is the idea of meritocracy. If you desire to advance in rank, you can put yourself in a position to do that. Before you earn a rank, there are lots of criteria to cover. You must past test, have people sign off on which activities you have completed, and on and on.
My dad told me, again, that experience is the best teacher, but also the most painful.
The rank advancements were a challenge to me because I had trouble getting the uniform right. At work, right now, there is roughly nine specific things I wear everyday to make sure I am dressed correctly. When I was in scouting there is about 20 items I had to have on my person when I went for my "Board of Review", the meeting before the meeting to make sure you passed the rank advancement test.
Double.
Are you kidding me? For a 13 year old? I thought the people in charge were nuts. Look at the numbers of what I had to go through to make it to another rank. That's hard work.
Fast forward to my professional life.
The uniform/clothes we wear play a major role in the story. At Chick-fil-A there is a look. There is a culture. And the two go hand in hand. When we want people to perceive us in some way, we dress the part to get the desired outcome.
I taught a "how to get hired" class at Fivay High School. One of my favorite classes was the one where pictures were put up for everybody to see and then the discussion.
A look at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Shawn White and it's easy to see the difference in the personality. One was a preacher, the other a skateboarder.
What does your attire say about you?
What is your favorite outfit to wear? How doe it make you feel? I want to know if you have go-to pair of shoes or a tie that sets off the ensemble.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Scouting, Part 1
Scouting is a game with a purpose.
The game is backpacking, canoeing, hiking, camping, merit badges, the uniform.
But there is something neat about scouting that you can also find in REMARKable organizations. Within Scouting lies a lightbulb moment for some boys. The moment where someone says, hey, I can do this differently if I just tried a little harder, or cared a little more. With this small amount of effort, look what I might accomplish.
I love those moments.
Have you ever seen that happen for someone who is close to you? Personally, professionally?
The moment where someone just gets it. And then, as calmly as a light pushes out darkness in a room, that person is transformed into what they were in to what they might become. And the thinking is "if, then." If I try, then I could do it. If I major in this subject, then I can become successful. If I care for someone else, then someone might care for me in the future. If I give, then I will begin the process of receiving.
After about a 45 minute conversation with my former Scout Master several nights ago, he encouraged me to never give up on someone. Never. He and I have been taught to look for the lightbulb moments and kids.
I wanted to share a piece of the puzzle that is a part of my make up. It is the Scout Law.
A Scout is...
Trustworthy
Loyal
Helpful
Friendly
Courteous
Kind
Obedient
Cheerful
Thrifty
Brave
Clean
and Reverent.
When this principles are instilled in you from age 12-18 every week and sometimes on the weekends, you can't help absorb some of this stuff. It's simple. It's easy to read, it's easy to memorize.
The hard part is execution.
I have spoken with several Eagle Scouts and one time I heard one tell me, "I can tell when I meet another Eagle Scout." I replied, "How do you know?" I remember very clearly him say, "You can just tell."
I don't know whether the fella was just pulling my leg, and maybe you have found this to be the case. When someone around you has an enormous amount of confidence, you wonder where they get it. For me, Scouting has and continues to play a vital role in my development.
What program have you gone through that has given you a lightbulb moment?
The game is backpacking, canoeing, hiking, camping, merit badges, the uniform.
But there is something neat about scouting that you can also find in REMARKable organizations. Within Scouting lies a lightbulb moment for some boys. The moment where someone says, hey, I can do this differently if I just tried a little harder, or cared a little more. With this small amount of effort, look what I might accomplish.
I love those moments.
Have you ever seen that happen for someone who is close to you? Personally, professionally?
The moment where someone just gets it. And then, as calmly as a light pushes out darkness in a room, that person is transformed into what they were in to what they might become. And the thinking is "if, then." If I try, then I could do it. If I major in this subject, then I can become successful. If I care for someone else, then someone might care for me in the future. If I give, then I will begin the process of receiving.
After about a 45 minute conversation with my former Scout Master several nights ago, he encouraged me to never give up on someone. Never. He and I have been taught to look for the lightbulb moments and kids.
I wanted to share a piece of the puzzle that is a part of my make up. It is the Scout Law.
A Scout is...
Trustworthy
Loyal
Helpful
Friendly
Courteous
Kind
Obedient
Cheerful
Thrifty
Brave
Clean
and Reverent.
When this principles are instilled in you from age 12-18 every week and sometimes on the weekends, you can't help absorb some of this stuff. It's simple. It's easy to read, it's easy to memorize.
The hard part is execution.
I have spoken with several Eagle Scouts and one time I heard one tell me, "I can tell when I meet another Eagle Scout." I replied, "How do you know?" I remember very clearly him say, "You can just tell."
I don't know whether the fella was just pulling my leg, and maybe you have found this to be the case. When someone around you has an enormous amount of confidence, you wonder where they get it. For me, Scouting has and continues to play a vital role in my development.
What program have you gone through that has given you a lightbulb moment?
Monday, May 12, 2014
The Idea of a Shepard
What do sheep need?
Water. Food. Protection. A shepherd.
What does the shepherd need from the sheep.
Its' coat to make wool. Its' milk to make butter or cheese. The sheep must stay alive for the shepherd to profit from it's natural resources.
Water. Food. Protection. A shepherd.
What does the shepherd need from the sheep.
Its' coat to make wool. Its' milk to make butter or cheese. The sheep must stay alive for the shepherd to profit from it's natural resources.
What is the correlation between us as individuals and our need to behave like a shepherd or at times, like a sheep?
I want my cake and the ability to eat it too.
I want water, food, protection (financial, physical or otherwise), and a leader to guide my efforts in making this happen. I have to search for these things. I have to read, and study and be ready for my number to be called. But on the other hand...
I also want to look at the proverbial sheep and to be able to derive a profit from it's natural resources in order to make a living. I want to see a process that is natural and look for ways to earn an income from it. Like one might put a windmill on their own property because they have a lot of wind. I want to be the leader who looks ahead and steers clear of present danger. I want to be a protector of what is mine.
At times we are the sheep or the shepherd, but never both at the same time.
Which category do you fall into and why do you fit there? Do you like being a sheep? Do you understand the pressure involved with being the shepherd?
Sunday, May 11, 2014
The Day that Turned My Life Around
I thought you might like to know a story about me.
The only reason that I think this story is necessary is because multiple people have mentioned it specifically to me in the past couple of weeks. It deals with my personal life change.
I was in my house with my roommate that I rent from and his mom was over. I was talking to her about my future and how I might need to stay somewhere else for a couple of months. I mentioned her second house that she has and she said these exact words, and I'll never forget what she said:
"I'll never let you live there. You are way to messy."
Boom.
Slap to the face.
My electronic mentor Jim Rohn says people change for one of two reasons, inspiration or desperation.
I said to myself that night as I was having trouble falling asleep, "I'll never have anyone say that about me ever again."
And my house, room, and things have never, and I mean never been more organized in all my life. I made myself a checklist that I wrote on my mirror and I attempt to follow it every night. The reason I say attempt is because sometimes I don't do everything on there. The next day I say to myself-"Today, I will try again."
Here is the simple list I use title "Evening Cleaning":
And that's all life ask us to do, try again.
What day turned your life around? Was it inspiration or desperation? Who said it? How did it make you feel? I'd like to hear about it in the comments section.
The only reason that I think this story is necessary is because multiple people have mentioned it specifically to me in the past couple of weeks. It deals with my personal life change.
I was in my house with my roommate that I rent from and his mom was over. I was talking to her about my future and how I might need to stay somewhere else for a couple of months. I mentioned her second house that she has and she said these exact words, and I'll never forget what she said:
"I'll never let you live there. You are way to messy."
Boom.
Slap to the face.
My electronic mentor Jim Rohn says people change for one of two reasons, inspiration or desperation.
I said to myself that night as I was having trouble falling asleep, "I'll never have anyone say that about me ever again."
And my house, room, and things have never, and I mean never been more organized in all my life. I made myself a checklist that I wrote on my mirror and I attempt to follow it every night. The reason I say attempt is because sometimes I don't do everything on there. The next day I say to myself-"Today, I will try again."
Here is the simple list I use title "Evening Cleaning":
- Clothes
- Papers
- Wipe counter down
- Dishes
- The Word
And that's all life ask us to do, try again.
What day turned your life around? Was it inspiration or desperation? Who said it? How did it make you feel? I'd like to hear about it in the comments section.
Down On My Luck
I have not posted for several days, maybe in a week. And I want to share why.
I'm scared.
I'm frightened.
What happens if I don't write something worth sharing the moment I click "PUBLISH"?
What about then? What happens after I write something that isn't remarkable?
I go back to work.
I have been discouraged lately about my infrequent blog post and not because I don't have something powerful to say, I think I am scared of failure.
It's hard being vulnerable and open. It's hard to build a platform and to connect with real people who want to make difference and matter to someone somewhere.
I know that the day will come when thoughts just flow out from brain to blog, but today isn't that day, and tomorrow isn't looking good either.
And here is the powerful thing...
I'm going to show up anyway. I'm going to keep blogging no matter how tired I am. I don't care about what happen last week. It's just time I did what I came to do. Write. And then let the writing do it's thing and watch to see what happens.
Thank you for listen. Rant over.
I'm scared.
I'm frightened.
What happens if I don't write something worth sharing the moment I click "PUBLISH"?
What about then? What happens after I write something that isn't remarkable?
I go back to work.
I have been discouraged lately about my infrequent blog post and not because I don't have something powerful to say, I think I am scared of failure.
It's hard being vulnerable and open. It's hard to build a platform and to connect with real people who want to make difference and matter to someone somewhere.
I know that the day will come when thoughts just flow out from brain to blog, but today isn't that day, and tomorrow isn't looking good either.
And here is the powerful thing...
I'm going to show up anyway. I'm going to keep blogging no matter how tired I am. I don't care about what happen last week. It's just time I did what I came to do. Write. And then let the writing do it's thing and watch to see what happens.
Thank you for listen. Rant over.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Why Social Media
If you want to stay connected, you will have to use it.
I started tweeting today for the first time. I’m skeptical, but I wanted you to be the first to know that I started to use it. I don't have a clue what I am doing, but with God's help, it shouldn't be a big deal.
I am going to get back on Facebook. I need it to stay in touch with people whose numbers I don't have.
Sure I am still going to call people and let that be my best form of communication, but the internet has changed things, I will choose to change with it.
Why do you use social media? What blessing have you received from its' use?
@theaustinwatts
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