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In this rough, tough, seemingly heartless, bottom-line oriented world of strategizing for survival through takeovers, layoffs and budget cuts, don't you love it when you find people who do business with heart?

I sure do and so - it has been a long time Business Class tradition to recognize, appreciate and celebrate people who do business with heart. People like Antwon, C.H., Frances and Laurie.

People who love their work. They get the job done. They really care. They make you feel good. They warm your heart. Not just on Valentine's Day - but throughout the year.

The stories below are time tested favorites. Classic stories about doing business with heart.

I hope you will read and enjoy them. Add stories of your own. Share them with your co-workers. Invite them to add stories.

And I hope you will join me in thanking people around you who does business with heart. Spreading the word and spreading appreciation for doing business with heart. So very important now more than ever. Because the more people do business with heart….the more people will do business with heart. And as more people do business with heart…even more people will do business with heart. Warming hearts. Not just at Valentines – but throughout the year.

Okay - it's story time.  Here is story #1.

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At the Marriott in Atlanta, an observer couldn't help but overhear a customer yelling at Antwon who worked as a bellman there. And couldn't help but notice that Antwon stayed calm through all the ranting and raving..

When asked how he managed to do that, Antwon laughed and said, "I get lots of practice."

He grew more serious as he said, "I try to rise above it. I figure if I be nice to them, then maybe it will make their day better. And maybe later they will think about it and be nicer to the next guy."

Antwon does business with heart.

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Story #2 is about C.H. Russell.

C.H. ran a trucking company and was as passionate as we were about not just meeting, but beating our delivery deadlines.

When we had a job for him to deliver, he would take off right after loading and drive straight through to Kentucky, or Iowa or whatever the destination, arriving early the next morning, just in time for the recipient's loading dock to open.

Once he helped them unload the truck (another unusual service), he would call us to announce in his celebratory voice, "Mission complete!"

It was not unusual for our customers to call us after C.H.'s departure to say, "That's some trucking company you've got there!"

We admire the way C.H. did business with heart.

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Here is story #3.

One Sunday afternoon, Meghan's two year old decided to color one cushion of the new sofa with pink marker; the other with black.

Thank goodness, Meghan had purchased stain resistant treatment with a lifetime guarantee which meant that if "self-cleaning" didn't work, the company would send out an upholstery cleaner. If that didn't work, they would replace the sofa for FREE.

Meghan called the toll free number and was told, "The warranty doesn't cover ink. Only food, beverage, human/pet stains, tears, rips and burns."

Next Meghan called the store where she had made her purchase. Frances listened patiently as Meghan explained the situation, ending with "we haven't even finished paying for it!"

"Marker isn't ink," Frances said, then hesitated. Maybe she wasn't sure?

But then, "Don't worry, Meghan. We will order new covers for your cushions. Your sofa will look as good as new very soon."

Thank you, Frances for doing business with heart.

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And our last story for today…

Dad realized he had left his hiking boots at The Pointe South Resort in Phoenix, a stop on the way to The Grand Canyon. Based on prior experience, he feared the boots were gone forever.

He called Pointe South and reached Laurie who said, "Mr. Bolick, in room 1216 – yes I have 1pair of hiking boots, 1 pair of dress shoes, 1pair of khakis and 1 very pretty blue checked shirt."

He couldn't believe his ears. The list was so long! And - she responded so quickly without even putting him on hold. Dad told her he would pick everything up when he returned to Phoenix for the flight back to North Carolina.

Laurie surprised him again by offering to send the clothes to his next destination. At no charge. True to her promise - Dad had a package waiting for him when he checked in to his hotel the next day.

Laurie did business with heart.

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If you love stories like these and want to read more, visit:  http://www.doingbusinesswithheart.com.

And while you are there, I hope you will share a few favorites of your own.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

copyright 2009 - Business Class Inc

Permission to reprint if entire artice is used including author info below.  Please send notification of publication name and date to:  bolickjan@gmail.com.