A great example of "Island Time"

Linda,

Even this example can be looked at in two ways:

Bad Island Time -- closing up shop and disappearing without leaving any indication of when the office might be open again.

Good Island Time -- caring so much about your coworkers that you drop everything and skip out of work to help comfort his family through their grief.

It will definitely take a while for me to get used to an apparant lack of concern about customer service and client satisfacation at some stores, agencies, etc. As a former Internet Communications consultant for a DC public affairs firm, I had 15 clients (including national non-profits and Fortune 100 companies) who I had to put before everything, including a great deal of my personal life. On the morning of 9/11, when the plane hit the Pentagon less than a mile from my house, I was asked by my boss to go online to send emails to all of our clients telling them that their web servers were safe and would not be affected by the tragedy. I did it, and only then did I feel I could deal with my own fears and fall apart.

Having given my all to make and keep my customers happy, I sometimes tend to expect the same level of service when I'm the customer. But between you and me, I think I'd have been a lot healthier, happier, and saner if I took a little more of the St. Croix DMV employee approach when I had that job. 🙂 I'll keep that in mind the next time I face a less than outgoing customer service rep.

The HipCrip

Personally I think that's awesome... Of course that type of behavior wouldn't fly here in the states BUT if a society or community can function with a concentual "no worries theres always tomorrow" type of attitude it's my opinion that everyone's blood pressure would be that much lower 🙂

Kyle

I definately agree with your philosophies HC.

Last Thursday, I found out my favorite aunt had a car accident. Needless to say, since than, I haven't put in more than 10-15 hours at my store. I put my shingle on the door, with my cell number and carted my butt to the hospital. She has since suffered a stroke and seems to be getting worse.
Now in my opinion, (and everybody in the family is out of town, dad, husband, brother all her closest relatives) that was the only thing I could do. I spent 12 enjoyable hours entertaining her in the emergency room waiting for admissions to find her a bed. This was before the stroke and when she could vocally communicate. It would have been a sorry state of affairs to miss out on that with her. Now she can hardly get a thing across.

Mark and I have two philosophies of life that we live by. When you meet us in person someday; you'll find it is true:

On our headstone our epitath will read from Man Went To Paris, Jimmy Buffett:
"Some of it's magic, Some of it's tragic; but, we've had a good life all the way:"
What we live by:
God, Family, Country, Friends, Business In that order. If there is a choice than its easy to make...

Eve,

You definitely have your priorities in order by spending time with your aunt instead of at the store. I'll put her, you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

HC

Getting this back up by stt survey, so stt doesn't forget about us....