Let me tell you about the “waving guy.”
Back when I first moved to this area in 2007, we drove into a town about 30 miles south where I live and were greeted by a most unusual sight:
A guy walking up and down the street… WAVING at everyone.
As someone who is originally from the big city Chicago-land area, I must say, it was shocking.
Here was this guy walking up and down a major street through town, waving and “greeting” everyone driving by.
And when you honk your horn, he also bows and tips his hat!
Just the coolest thing you’ll ever see.
Since then, whenever we go to that town, we’re always looking for him. Sometimes we see him, and sometimes not. But when we do see him, we (along with most other cars) honk and wave back.
Corny as it sounds, it just makes you feel good to see this guy.
You almost look FORWARD to it.
It really puts things in perspective, too.
Here’s a guy who is being kind and decent for no reason whatsoever.
He doesn’t ask for anything.
Doesn’t want anything.
And doesn’t have any “agenda” but to brighten peoples’ days.
Which is exactly what he does.
We’ve even noticed that if we were feeling a bit stressed, angry, frustrated, etc, that it ALL goes away when we drive by this guy.
All that “junk” is replaced by a feeling of gratitude and joy. Like you’re just happy to be alive — free on God’s green earth.
Anyway, last time I saw him, I got to thinking:
What an awesome metaphor for how businesses should behave.
How much difference would it make to your business, your health and your overall peace of mind if people thought of YOU the same way people think of the waving guy?
Where people look forward to hearing from you?
Look forward to telling people about you?
And look forward to buying from you?
And not because you even necessarily have the “best” product or service. But just because you leave their lives a little better than BEFORE they did business with you?
Anyway, just something to think about.
How can you be the “waving guy” (or gal) in your industry?
The business people figuratively honk their horns at when surfing your website and reading your emails, and flat out feel GOOD they met and did business with you?
It’s worth some serious thought.
Especially today, with so much despair and chicanery in the world.
Ben Settle
You can read more about the waving guy, and learn his truly inspirational story here:
