Guts, Grace & Gusto

Walking onto the stage, Susan Boyle didn’t appear that “she had it in her.” Judges scoffed in anticipation of an apparent musical fiasco. Camera shots captured audience snickers and boos. Yet, when she began belting out her powerful rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream”, her magical voice transformed the sea of cynicism into thunderous applause.

Simon called her “a bit of a tiger.” Susan did indeed exemplify the guts, grace and gusto spirit. She took a risk and the world became her stage. There she stood vulnerable to attack and public embarrassment, but Susan knew what others did not. She had a gift, a talent to share and she put it into expression, and taught millions a lesson in judgment. Susan did indeed dream the dream and became an overnight sensation, because she was willing to take that moment in time and break open the world of possibilities. She’s already gotten much more than her 15 minutes of fame.

Are you finding ways to express your special gifts and talents? If not, what’s stopping you? Opportunities for expressing them may come and go. Are you prepared “to take the stage”? Are you willing to take a risk to put your talent out there? That takes guts, but you will be known for your gusto.You've got it. Rock the world with your own special talent.

Click here to see Susan shine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk

Labels: Dream the Dream, gifts and talents, Susan Boyle, you've got talent

AFedEX truck delivered a surprise this morning, along with a pair of pants ordered last week from Coldwater Creek, one of my favorite retail therapy stores. While shopping at their Fair Oaks, VA location in search of ivory pants, Susan, one of their fashion consultants, provided extraordinary service. She took me to the rack with pants just the right color, but none in my size. She tracked their nationwide inventory and located a pair in Mission Viejo. Wish her approach to customer service would be cloned because she made buying a pair of sale pants memorable.

Tucked under the layers of tissue wrap, I opened an envelope. Inside was a handwritten card on Coldwater Creek stationery, a simple note of appreciation, yet another memorable customer service experience. Handwritten notes are becoming a bit of a rarity with the frequency and easy of email.

In our Get Along with Anyone book featuring tips for creating quality connections with customers, coworkers and kin, co-author Arnold Sanow and I write about how our increasingly electronic culture invites impersonalization with potential of severing connections with key audiences.

Kudos to Coldwater Creek for creating a quality customer experience from coast-to-coast. A small gesture that says a lot these days and was greatly appreciated.

Labels: appreciation, Coldwater Creek, customer service