What have you been up to lately?
January 20, 2010
Tonight, I take Ana to dinner. There’s a plaque in the restaurant lobby.
It reads: “2002 Customer Service Award.”
Interesting. Last I checked, it’s 2010.
This got me thinking.
At what point do past accomplishments continue to have meaning?
At what point do past accomplishments matter?
At what point are the employees that achieved the customer service award in 2002 still with the restaurant?
Maybe 1/3 the staff?
(Me to Tim, the waiter: “Congrats. I see you won the 2002 customer service award.” Him: “We did? Cool.”)
I’d wager to guess that past performance matters less than it did before.
I’d wager to guess that “Doing business since 1969″ doesn’t carry the same weight.
People, I’d wager, are more interested in: What are you doing now?
In other words: “What are you doing today?”
So…what are you doing today? 
…
(Oh, and as an aside, I’d wager to guess that in six months Tim will no longer be with the restaurant).
…
(Smile? Forward this to a friend and brighten their day. You’ll feel good and so will they.)
Lol, I think it’s cool to celebrate past success, but as you said, there has been a lot of time since 2002 in that case
1/3 still working there is probably generous unless it’s a small family place.
Not doing anything particularly special today, but last night I got quite a bit of work done on our kitchen remodel. After staring at a computer all day it’s nice to come home, crank some music and get my hands dirty.
Take care, Papa.
PS – just noticed the Will Smith tag.
Hm. I’m sitting home hoping no more parts of my trees come down and that Mr. makes it home safely from work in this friggin’ ice rink called Iowa. I’m cranky but coming here put a smile on my face.
I am working on my new site CyberSafeFamily.com and my new plan this year. And luckily I have a friend like you that keeps me focused and encourages me!
I think Oscar is right that past accomplishments can be good to encourage you but you are right… there comes a point and time that you can’t hang on to that one from many years ago. You have to continue to find new goals and accomplishments that help you be the best you can be. Even though it may take you out of your comfort zone!
Thanks!
Past successes matter, especially if they’ve been consistently attained! Your reaction might have been different if the restaurant displayed their Customer Service Award plaques from 2002-2008!
Great post!!! The things we’ve accomplished in the past are very important, but we can’t let them become an excuse not to do anything now.
I was homecoming queen in high school AND college.
My daughters have beat my crowns to hell.
Long live the queen?
Today, I am going to try to scrape together a few bucks so my bank account doesn’t overdraw – wish me luck!
glad you asked…I am working on something new and exciting. Oh, and I have a phone conversation lined up with a friend for tomorrow evening about something new and exciting. Talk to ya soon!
What am I up to? Aside from chatting with the babes all day….
Haha, but no, I’m trying to get some work done on my own website while listening to music! Productive? Possibly. Enjoyable? Certainly!
I think past rewards are best remembered as milestones. If I achieved something then, in what ways have I grown, and in what ways can I achieve something even better now?