Free Online Marketing Ideas

Practising the Real Givers Gain!

Imagine the scenario.

On a recent speaking trip I arrived at the Air Canada check-in at Heathrow (London) with what I thought was plenty of time - 3 hours before my 1.15 pm flight left for Vancouver (Canada) - only to be told they cant check me in as there is a problem with my ticket. Frantic phone call to my travel agent who at that point can’t help as it is an airline issue. I am told by Air Canada that I need to go to Air New Zealand who were the issuers of the ticket.

No problem I say, where is Air New Zealand. Oh that is in terminal 2. Where is terminal 2? 15 minutes fast walk with all my luggage.

I get to terminal 2 and when I get there the sign says they are not open till 12.15 pm. Panic! Notice there is a British Airways counter with 3 agents next door. By now it is 11.25 am.

Approaching the BA agent I plead my case saying it really is not their problem but please can they help? The agent then proceeds to make 7 phone calls and sorts the problem out. Note that this is not a BA problem and nowhere in my 12 flights this trip am I flying BA. Yet she goes the “extra mile” and helps. Huge thanks to her and I am off back to Air Canada who then check me in with about 50 minutes before flight time.

Lesson for me and all of us - most problems can be solved with the right attitude.

However I wonder how many of us really practice the Givers Gain attitude. It is highly unlikely I will ever see that agent again and nowhere in that scenario is there a $ for BA. Yet here is someone who knows how to give without ever thinking of what was in it for her.

When was the last time you did something similar? Gave without there ever being a real possibility of receiving.