How One Degree Makes All the Difference
I recently had the pleasure of reading 212◦ The Extra Degree by Sam Parker and Mac Anderson. Their inspiring and uplifting concept is built around the premise that just one solitary degree separates water from simply being hot to generating enough steam to power a train.
Take a minute to think about this. One degree could be what it takes for your community to separate from the competition. One degree could be what it takes for your individual performance to go from status quo to superstar. One degree could be what it takes to go from ordinary to extraordinary.
Think what would happen if everyone in your organization took their performance up one degree – making an extra effort in every task, action and endeavor they undertake. It could be as simple as:
- Remembering a prospect’s birthday or anniversary and acknowledging it.
- Going out of your way to check in with a resident who just moved in to ensure they’re settled and happy.
- Remembering certain treats a resident’s grandchildren like and having them on hand when they visit next.
- Making five extra prospecting calls a day.
- Calling or e-mailing photos to an adult child to let them know what their parent did that day.
It’s human nature to remember those small things, and those small things make you and your organization truly stand out – even be worth talking about to others. We promise it pays itself forward in a variety of ways.
At GlynnDevins, we’ve adopted this philosophy as part of our agency culture, and even award a one-degree recipient at our monthly agency meetings – just one more way we can salute those who continue to find unique and creative ways to turn up the heat.
So how will you take it up one degree today? We’d love to hear your examples.
Great points Ryndell. This topic is especially appropriate given the March Madness the country is currently consumed with. How many times do you hear coaches stress to their players the importance of playing hard on every possession. The difference that one more steal, one more rebound or one more made shot can make.
As important as we all know it is to keep our focus on the big picture it’s remembering the little details that can separate us from the pack.
Thanks for sharing.
Jerry
Interest timing, this blog post. Our community had an up-one-degree moment last week, arranging for a Harley-sidecar ride for one of our resident’s 100th birthday. It was a great event for both our resident and our staff. You’re right, that one degree makes a difference as the level of customer service that day no doubt benefited from the enthusiastic staff.
And steam rises. That one degree led to one more degree in the form of YouTube video of the event. The video has engaged and excited the resident’s family, our entire community and all of our staff. Now we’re experiencing a sort of cyclical effect as hearing such great feedback has encouraged us to give even more effort to the day’s tasks and so on.
So that’s our recent extree degree(s); your thoughts are spot on.
Here’s the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdDiLhLlT8o
That’s a good reminder, Ryndell. Small acts of intentional kindness can make a big difference!
Fantastic! Thank you for motivating us all to take it up a notch.
I appreciate everyone’s comments and am so glad you view this post as beneficial — it is the small things we often forget (myself included) but I am pleased to see examples of how people are already taking it up a notch — great video, Eric — and the long-lasting effects you can feel from something so simple, yet so meaningful to those involved. I would love to hear more.
We used the 212 degree book and DVD for sales training and it was great! Very affordable and generates effective team building as well as personal committment to both personal and professional values.