One dollar Note & The only Corner Store...
We live in a world where we expect everyone around us to fail most times so that success can be achieved without much effort and when it comes to business , profit has become a full course meal and values are no longer even a side dish! The Causatum after all this at the end of the day or end of the year is, we might gain something ! but we never win -nor the people , nor the value and nor the trust. Thats where New year can make a difference where we again believe that a new start can be made. It brings hope and halt our mind to think and act. Hope is our only Companion that keeps us going and New year Brings plenty of that! Thats why New year is special instead of being a normal day in our lives. Last week i felt the Hope is still a reality during a long drive to New mexico.
I love driving especially long drives just like most people do these days mainly because of the serenity and also you feel the ability to see the world without being confined. Driving brings Joy to different people in different ways but to me the most beautiful thing about driving are the small Halts. More than the views on the go , never ending roads and the hotel stay , Stops bring Calmness to the rushing mind. When none of us have time to stop for anything in this Usain Bolt world the stops that we make to see the views or sip a coffee or eat your lunch or fill your tank brings in peace, clarity and helps to realise things that we missed to see earlier. Most times the source of real happiness is under realized or Unrealized.The better we realize the lesser we search for it.
Ok Then , Coming back about the stops. Stop at the gas station or the petrol bunk is fun!Especially if you are born before early 90's coz those are some of the ones who loves the fragrance of the petrol from your dad's bike back in old days and still love it even after you have purchased a luxury car. It was a 13 hour drive and Gas stations were scarce on the route, so i had to fill the Gas tank in a suburb station on the way
since the next gas station might only be after 100 miles or more. The gas station was surrounded by breathtaking mountain view and i ensured to take a look around the mountains which gave a fresh, scintillating and refreshing feel. Suddenly, I heard the Click sound to realise the auto shut off was turned on and waited for the receipt to come along. But it didnt and displayed "Receipt is with the Cashier and to collect it from him". I went to collect the same and On the way i saw a Vending machine which urged me to get a water bottle and made me thirsty. Just realised If ads are not there many in the world would have felt content with many things in life without an urge.There was no slot for a card and i didnt have dollar notes in Cash to use it. So i thought i can go inside the corner store( Shop) to get the receipt and also ask for few dollars as cash back, if possible.
There were 4 to 5 customers standing in the queue to bill their items. The Cashier was a man in 40's with Salt and Pepper hair , 6.5 feet tall , well built and had a authoritative tone. First impression of looking at him might make you feel he might be Rude. One thing, that i noticed in that small wait is most of those customers were still using Cash. When we believe the entire world is going cashless especially in India right now, that moment proved a different thought instantly that what we assume as entire world are not the ones we see at work and there is more to it. Ok without sliding tracks & Coming back to the queue moment!The shopkeeper billed the first two customers and mentioned " Drive safe and happy out there " with a smile. Second impression about that ran through my mind was "He cant be too bad"! Then the third customer billed for his coffee and paid some cash. The Shopkeeper said manejar con cuidado ahà fuera ( Drive safe out there in Spanish) with a smile again. The third customer left the shop and was ready to start his journey again. By that time the 4th customer and currently the first, noticed there was a 1$ bill lying around on the floor. He check if it was his. It was not ! so he picked it up and asked the people on the back if it's ours. we ( 2 or 3) replied " No". Then he gave it to the shopkeeper saying it must have fell from the purse of the previous customer. The Shopkeeper immediately plucked the note from the 4th customer hand and ran out of the store stopped the moving vehicle and gave the 1$ note to the customer and came back. That was crazy to witness how fast the moment passed and also to realise that the shopkeeper could have been easily hurt, but he didnt care.
Without making any Fuss the Shopkeeper came back to his Cashier slot. He started to bill the 4th customer and the 4th customer asked him " That was crazy Man,it was just 1$ you could have been hurt " , he said. The Shopkeeper replied " well, you never know the value of a 1$ or anything for that matter that can mean to someone . Last year when i went on a trip with my family. Our bottles got empty and I could not get water for my Kid with hiccups and was struggling for more than 40 miles inspite of locating a Vending machine and coz i didnt have a dollar note to use it. Thats when i realised how much a 1$ can actually mean or even 25 Cents for that matter. You never know Man, and as a shopkeeper it's my responsibility to ensure that my customers who are stepping out are stepping out safely from here until they make the next stop in their Journey. Thats what i work for" he concluded. The 4th customer said " That's awesome Buddy, If everyone can do business like you with real care and values it will make a difference". The conversation might have ended but it was just a beginning to be in AWE of what had happened and i felt i am lucky enough to even just witness it coz of a stop i made.
Most times in Business we believe once we sell a product our job is done and not many people care about the Journey of a customer but when you care about the Journey by putting yourself as a customer It will make a huge difference in People's lives, Vibes of the Society and also make others to follow and believe Good Business is not all about profits. Also the Sticker placed in most shops that says " Thank you. Please come visit again" might really mean something true, Indeed. Happy New year to the Shopkeeper Ryan and also to all of you where a new beginning Beckons again. Wishing you and all of us a year filled with beautiful unknowns and an incredible Journey of Life filled with Hope.
I love driving especially long drives just like most people do these days mainly because of the serenity and also you feel the ability to see the world without being confined. Driving brings Joy to different people in different ways but to me the most beautiful thing about driving are the small Halts. More than the views on the go , never ending roads and the hotel stay , Stops bring Calmness to the rushing mind. When none of us have time to stop for anything in this Usain Bolt world the stops that we make to see the views or sip a coffee or eat your lunch or fill your tank brings in peace, clarity and helps to realise things that we missed to see earlier. Most times the source of real happiness is under realized or Unrealized.The better we realize the lesser we search for it.
Ok Then , Coming back about the stops. Stop at the gas station or the petrol bunk is fun!Especially if you are born before early 90's coz those are some of the ones who loves the fragrance of the petrol from your dad's bike back in old days and still love it even after you have purchased a luxury car. It was a 13 hour drive and Gas stations were scarce on the route, so i had to fill the Gas tank in a suburb station on the way
since the next gas station might only be after 100 miles or more. The gas station was surrounded by breathtaking mountain view and i ensured to take a look around the mountains which gave a fresh, scintillating and refreshing feel. Suddenly, I heard the Click sound to realise the auto shut off was turned on and waited for the receipt to come along. But it didnt and displayed "Receipt is with the Cashier and to collect it from him". I went to collect the same and On the way i saw a Vending machine which urged me to get a water bottle and made me thirsty. Just realised If ads are not there many in the world would have felt content with many things in life without an urge.There was no slot for a card and i didnt have dollar notes in Cash to use it. So i thought i can go inside the corner store( Shop) to get the receipt and also ask for few dollars as cash back, if possible.
There were 4 to 5 customers standing in the queue to bill their items. The Cashier was a man in 40's with Salt and Pepper hair , 6.5 feet tall , well built and had a authoritative tone. First impression of looking at him might make you feel he might be Rude. One thing, that i noticed in that small wait is most of those customers were still using Cash. When we believe the entire world is going cashless especially in India right now, that moment proved a different thought instantly that what we assume as entire world are not the ones we see at work and there is more to it. Ok without sliding tracks & Coming back to the queue moment!The shopkeeper billed the first two customers and mentioned " Drive safe and happy out there " with a smile. Second impression about that ran through my mind was "He cant be too bad"! Then the third customer billed for his coffee and paid some cash. The Shopkeeper said manejar con cuidado ahà fuera ( Drive safe out there in Spanish) with a smile again. The third customer left the shop and was ready to start his journey again. By that time the 4th customer and currently the first, noticed there was a 1$ bill lying around on the floor. He check if it was his. It was not ! so he picked it up and asked the people on the back if it's ours. we ( 2 or 3) replied " No". Then he gave it to the shopkeeper saying it must have fell from the purse of the previous customer. The Shopkeeper immediately plucked the note from the 4th customer hand and ran out of the store stopped the moving vehicle and gave the 1$ note to the customer and came back. That was crazy to witness how fast the moment passed and also to realise that the shopkeeper could have been easily hurt, but he didnt care.
Without making any Fuss the Shopkeeper came back to his Cashier slot. He started to bill the 4th customer and the 4th customer asked him " That was crazy Man,it was just 1$ you could have been hurt " , he said. The Shopkeeper replied " well, you never know the value of a 1$ or anything for that matter that can mean to someone . Last year when i went on a trip with my family. Our bottles got empty and I could not get water for my Kid with hiccups and was struggling for more than 40 miles inspite of locating a Vending machine and coz i didnt have a dollar note to use it. Thats when i realised how much a 1$ can actually mean or even 25 Cents for that matter. You never know Man, and as a shopkeeper it's my responsibility to ensure that my customers who are stepping out are stepping out safely from here until they make the next stop in their Journey. Thats what i work for" he concluded. The 4th customer said " That's awesome Buddy, If everyone can do business like you with real care and values it will make a difference". The conversation might have ended but it was just a beginning to be in AWE of what had happened and i felt i am lucky enough to even just witness it coz of a stop i made.
Most times in Business we believe once we sell a product our job is done and not many people care about the Journey of a customer but when you care about the Journey by putting yourself as a customer It will make a huge difference in People's lives, Vibes of the Society and also make others to follow and believe Good Business is not all about profits. Also the Sticker placed in most shops that says " Thank you. Please come visit again" might really mean something true, Indeed. Happy New year to the Shopkeeper Ryan and also to all of you where a new beginning Beckons again. Wishing you and all of us a year filled with beautiful unknowns and an incredible Journey of Life filled with Hope.
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