This past week my sixteen month old daughter has been home sick. Since I office out of my home, I thought that I could get a little work done. Thankfully, because of the holiday, I did not have too much to do. However, each evening, this little bundle of energy took her mother to my desk. My daughter, Katya, had my wife help her into my seat, where she proceeded to turn on the computer, flip through the rollidex, speak on the phone, shove papers into the printer, and generally made a nice mess in her attempts to explore what I do when working at my desk. Each morning, I had to clean up after Katya's night of work.
I am by no means proselytizing with this next remark, but have you read Jesus' remarks regarding children. Whereas Paul stated that we should become adults, Jesus refers to staying like children. I watch Katya exploring her brave new worlds, trying to understand how it works. She comes to help me by bringing tools to me when I am attempting to repair her toy. Not the right tools mind you, but tools nevertheless. I see her head sticking into a cabinet with the inevitable "hey!!!", as she pulls out another discovery. Katya is constantly analyzing her environment, and I think that is what Jesus was referencing with his comments.
The nice thing about blogs here on Active Rain is that I get to explore my world from different angles. It is interesting to see how people develop solutions to the tasks that they face, and then share them. Maybe an idea is not for you, but you may find a way to make it work in your situation with a little exploration. I am intrigued by the uses my daughter develops for strange objects entering her world.
I would like to suggest that this act of exploration should be constant in our efforts to improve our relationships with our clients. I was laughed at when I was sitting on a beach in Miami this past summer with a notepad in hand. You see, I was not expecting to be at a beach, so I did not come prepared for the water. I was at the national fencing tournament for my son, and we had walked down to the beach from the convention center. Getting back to me and my notepad, I was looking off into the distance thinking about my experience on the airlines, when I started to consider the experience of my customers. An inspection can be a long process, but many clients want to be in the home with me. They sit there, waiting patiently, bored to tears. I started scribbling on my pad all of the stages of the inspection, and what the customer was doing at the different points. I then proceeded to write down what I thought they may need to know about the house before moving in, what there concerns would be, and what could make it a better experience for them.
When I came back from my trip, I started to put together a package of books, catalogs, forms, and a tape measure. My clients could now plan out decorating designs. They could see other ideas. They could check out the latest appliances, and so on. One Realtor laughed, and said "you come prepared". I am still looking for ways to help them. Whether it is keeping them from being bored, or with information for after they have moved into the home. My exploration of their world continues.
Nice post for a Sunday, huh? Should I finish with another line from Jesus (although you will find this idea the world over)? Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. Our clients pay our bills. They want some appreciation in turn. So ends my sermon.
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