At Your Service by Maggie Inge

It is easy to believe that we are delivering great service whether or not our customer’s experience matches our belief. This is especially true when we have a reputation for good service. Rather than become complacent, it is valuable to remember that the service story is always the same, “What have you done for me lately?”

This Saturday at the fairgrounds in Walton the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce is hosting The Catskill Region Business Expo and Home Improvement Show. It affords opportunities for anyone who might attend, and there are many different reasons to do so.

Our national economy and a significant portion of the things we take for granted are the result of the developing use of natural resources. Our region’s future continues to hinge on the simple fact that we are in the heart of the New York City Watershed. The tragic collapse of a Gulf of Mexico oil rig and subsequent oil spill remind us that all progress is not forward motion.

They say that if you want to hear God laugh, you need only tell Him your plans. Nonetheless, there is value in planning for the future of our businesses and the lives they support. There will always be factors that are beyond our reach and imaginations, but planning helps us be prepared for the rest of what may happen.

Last weekend Tiger Woods returned to the game of golf to play in The Masters, the tournament many consider to be the jewel in the crown of the PGA Tour. When the tourney ended on Sunday, Phil Mickelson had prevailed, Tiger had tied for fourth and a whole lot of amazing golf had been played.

Dining out is a treat for most people these days. It certainly is for me. So, I was particularly appreciative when I was recently treated to a mid-week restaurant meal. Unfortunately, our experience lacked one critical aspect of good service that would have made it a pleasure to be there.

This morning an eagle graced my path. A slight movement in the trees first caught my attention. The strong brown body perched within a barren maple, barely visible; I suddenly saw the stark white head framed against the grey morning sky. Then he spread those wings and took flight – a marvel to behold.

Has anyone else noticed that it is getting harder and harder to understand what people are saying on television? What began as an effort to squeeze more information into each sound bite has grown into a form of rapid speech that is almost impossible to understand.

Location, location, location – it is everything when determining the value of a real estate deal. The factors that are used in an assessment are related to the relationship a piece of property has to various conveniences, services and status symbols. It is the first lesson real estate professionals learn. Similarly, the quality of the service we receive is filtered through a series of conditions that might also be referred to as location, location, location.

“I’m sorry for your loss.” Few phrases in our language are spoken with more sincerity than this one; yet it is also the phrase most likely to have a hollow ring for its listener. It is difficult because both the speaker and the listener have been forced into a confrontation with mortality. These are moments in which few of us are comfortable.