By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Wednesday, January 28, 2015
I want to share a story that happened years ago. While attending college, I was a martial arts competitor and worked at Grand Master Al Garza’s Karate School. When teaching classes, I constantly reminded students to address me with “yes sir” and no sir.”
On one particular day, I was walking through Baybrook Mall and a young lady stopped me to sell some men’s cologne. During our conversation, and out of habit, I reminded her to say “yes sir.” I immediately apologized and explained my reason for correcting people. I bought the cologne and went on about my way.
About four months later, I was walking through the mall again, and this same lady ran up and stopped me. She told me that she thought real hard about our conversation and chose to start responding to everyone with “yes sir” and “yes ma’am”.
To her surprise, she started selling more products and doubled her commissions. Her supervisors took notice and gave her a leadership role in that department.
Now, she was taking night classes in marketing and business with plans to open her own store one day.
Just think about yourself. How do you treat people? What are your habits of politeness? Do you treat people as you wish to be treated?
Don’t get frustrated if you open the door for others and they don’t say “thank you.” That’s their problem. Walk away and continue your awesome day.
My kids have been opening doors for people since they were very young. They love greeting people and watching adults smile at them for their act of kindness.
It doesn’t matter how old you are. Try adding “yes sir” and “yes ma’am” to your vocabulary and watch the effects it will have in your life.
And, if you start making more money, cut me off 10 percent.