Every day, my phone alerts me of photos taken “on this day”. I love it, and I take time every day to look back through the years. A few days ago, I was struck by the photo below.
Last year, a severe storm raged through Central Florida one Sunday morning in early April, and the roof to our entertainment room started leaking in several spots. These weren’t drops. It was like the ceiling opened. I ran to the garage to get our tarp and then up to the second floor, out a window onto the first-floor roof. In the pouring rain, I laid out the tarp and stopped the leaks.
My seven-year-old daughter followed me through the whole process. She helped me move things in the garage, ran upstairs with me, and then handed the tarp and bricks to me through the window. As I was laying out the tarp, she watched every move. When the storm passed, I told her she could come out and help me.
She was overjoyed.
I was stressed.
Same situation, but two different reactions:
Me: Roof is leaking. Wood floors might be ruined. Is this going to be covered by insurance? Will I have to replace the whole roof or just this part? How long will this tarp keep us dry? Is it going to rain later? The only roofer I know lives 50 miles away.
My daughter: I’m on the roof. This is awesome!
Look at the picture. Her hair soaked, still in her pajamas, loving life. Me? Not so much. I look miserable. The fact is that being on that roof was an adventure to my daughter, and it should’ve been to me, too. Sure, there are things I had to worry about that she didn’t, but what does that have to do with that moment of securing our roof in the middle of a storm? What a cool adventure.
Just curious, what face do your customers see of you? It doesn’t take a leaky roof to create a bad day. Sometimes it can simply be an eyeroll from a boss or an overbooked morning. Regardless of the situation, are you presenting a positive image to your customers, partners, and coworkers, or do you look like I do? Do you see your crazy schedule as a burden or an adventure? Choose adventure. Your face will show it. Your customers and your future will appreciate it!
Don’t believe me? Look at our photo again and ask yourself if you’d rather have a conversation with my daughter’s smiling energetic personality, or my grumpy self?
