Go the Extra Mile
When was the last time you saw something remarkable? When was the last time someone went the extra mile to help you out?
We all know the feeling we get when someone goes above the call of duty to do something nice.
Walter Levine built his security company into the largest in Connecticut by guaranteeing to “…deliver the service within 40 minutes after receiving your phone call, or you get it free.” Not too difficult to see the connection.
In high school, Michael Dell sent welcome letters to new residents in the city to solicit newspaper subscriptions. He earned thousands of dollars before the summer was over.
It’s true, there are countless examples of remarkable acts all over the place. The problem is that these are recounted as exceptions to the rule, and a direct opposite of the norm (which is boring, everyday, and won’t make me like you more).
Everyone wants to be treated nicely. Everyone wants someone else to go out of their way to help them out, open the door, or toss in an extra espresso shot because it helps them out. Isn’t that why we love the story of the Home Depot clerk who advised a customer to get the $6 part instead of the $60 repair kit? Or the story of the the big shot CEO who would fly his helicopter all over the country asking his employees, “How may I help you?”
In spite of the evidence, why is it the accepted tradition to not go the extra mile?
