I'd Like To Speak To The Manager

I bet if I asked you what your worst dining experience was, you could tell me. I can definitely tell you. It happened at a Melting Pot in Irvine, CA. I wont fill you in on all the details, but it was so bad it caused me to write a letter, not an email, but a letter to their corporate office and to their Irvine location as well. I received no response from them and in turn I have never returned to any of their establishments.

I've worked in customer service for a long time. So please know, that if I am so upset at a restaurant that I wont go back, that the experience was horrific. That being said, I also have a lot of grace for servers and staff at restaurants because they are dealing with a constantly changing variable known as the public.

We all have a story or two like mine. A story that starts with the hope that we were going to have a pleasant dining experience and instead turned into a nightmare. It's easy to complain about forgotten drink orders and burgers being too well done.

But when is the last time you shared with people a really extraordinary dining experience? When is the last time that you filled out a comment card with positives, praising your server for his or her friendliness?

So here is Challenge #5 in the Returning Dignity Project:

This week I want you to highlight and share your positive service experiences. Whether it's at a restaurant, bank, or at a store. Any place your would receive customer service.  If someone gives you great service and a great experience, leave a comment card, talk to their manager, take the overly long phone survey. These small things make all the difference to people who constantly come face to face with people focusing on the negative aspects and not the positive ones.

It catches people so off guard, that many times, when I have spoken to the manager about a positive experience, they are surprised because usually they are only there to receive the complaints.

If you wanna take it a step further post your positive service experiences on our Twitter feed @retrningdignity or on your feed on on your Facebook.

Here's a true example from Sunday night for you:

"I want to compliment  Andy at the Meat House in Costa Mesa. Last night was out first time in that butcher shop and he made the experience great with his genuine spirit and information about their products!"

See, so easy.

Have a great week and enjoy building up those who serve you every single day!

A New Challenge for A New Week.

Word had been getting more out about The Returning Dignity Project. That gets me really more and more excited about the whole thing.

The whole idea of this project is to make everyday personal interactions more genuine..

I have been thinking about the old adage, "That was the straw that broke the camel's back." The idea that something so small is the thing that finally pushed an already exacerbated situation over the limit.

I think many times we all say things or do things that are snarky or mean and don't think about the true consequences of those words or actions.

What if making a quip about someones relationship was the final dig they "needed" to go and end that relationship? What if a sarcastic comment to someone only rooted them more in shame?

Do we want to be the straw that breaks any one's back?

This is your challenge for the week...

When the temptation comes up to be harsh, sarcastic or dismissive; instead take a step back and work on saying something to build up that person or be supportive of them in a genuine way. This way we can help lessen each others load and make the day or even just the moment a little bit easier.

Happy Tuesday everyone and I look forward to seeing how challenge #3 unfolds for everyone.

Giving Is the Brand!

A few weeks back we headed to the Indie Arts and Crafts festival as it set up camp in the museum district of Santa Ana. It is there we happened upon an apparel booth and met Ty and Ish who told us all about the Collaborative World movement. http://www.thecwmovement.com

Each season Collaborative World partners with four non-profit organizations at individual, local, national, and global levels. These organizations are committed to improving the lives of the people they serve.  Half of all the CW apparel sales goes to these organizations.

Such a great idea!

This season Collaborative World is partnering with  the following great non-profits:

Living the Dream Foundation http://www.livingthedreamfoundation.org/
Started in 2007 by Scottie Somers, the foundation works to help empower ill children and young adults to realize their potential no matter what their affliction.

Someone Cares Soup Kitchen and Tutoring Program http://www.someonecareskitchen.org/
Their mission is to feed a daily nutritional meal to the homeless, working poor, unemployed, physically and mentally challenged, senior citizens, and children of Orange County. they also offer a 3 hour after school tutoring program for at risk students.

My Broken Palace http://mybrokenpalace.com
The mission of My Broken Palace is that no one is to ever to bear the weight of loneliness, anxiety, stress, depression, abuse, addictions, or thoughts of suicide by themselves. Their motto, "No one lonely, alone."

Krochet Kids http://krochetkids.org/
"Buy a hat. Change a life" To empower people to rise above poverty. They currently work with women in Peru and Uganda. Style that promotes social change.

Awesome, right?!

The apparel from Collaborative World is not only comfy, but stylish! Below is a pic of my shirt that directly supports My Broken Palace. Shawn purchased one that directly supports Someone Cares Soup Kitchen and tutoring Program. It's so nice to know that a piece of clothing I am buying is actually helping someone instead of oppressing them further.

Please check out Collaborative World and their partners.

The more we join together to return dignity to each other, the easier our mission becomes.