A few week's ago my co-worker suggested I watch this inspirational video of Mel Robbins on you tube. One of the suggestions from the video was to follow your first instincts. She said we often have good ideas and then talk ourselves out of them within 5 minutes of the thought. A few days or so after watching the video I had to call the pharmacy. I had a question about insurance covering a medication for my mom. The person on the phone answered my question. I then had a question about my own prescription. They pulled up my info without even needing my birthday. They remembered me. The pharmacy employee was just as helpful and pleasant on the phone as they always are in person.
As I hung up the phone I thought. I should get the pharmacy team a gift. They are always so helpful and pleasant. I immediately began to talk myself out of it. Just like the lady in the video predicted. Within five minutes of my original instinct to get the gift I had come up with several reasons why I should not do it. It would be weird, no on gives the pharmacists at a big store like Target gifts. They might not be allowed to accept gifts from customers. I really don't have extra money to give random strangers gits for doing their jobs. They might think my mom and I expect some kind of special treatment, which we don't, in exchange for the gift. All of these reasons to not give a gift kept coming to mind. The I remembered the video and decided to follow my first instinct and give the gift.
Dropped off a little gift to the #TargetPharmacy today. A box of @bredenbecks cookies with a thank you note from me and my mom. "Thank you Target Pharmacy Staff for your excellent service, your positive attitudes and willingness to help answer all of our questions. We appreciate you!!☺" Thanks @Target Philadelphia Monument Road! A photo posted by Arlett (@chasingjoy) on May 24, 2015 at 9:44am PDTAbout a week later I purchased some cookies from my favorite bakery wrote out a card in my terrible penmanship and headed to target. It was one of the rare times where I was going to Target and did not have a prescription to pick up. I was greeted warmly by the pharmacy staff and asked if they could help me. I said no and that I had come bearing gifts. They seemed a little confused at first. I was glad no other customers where there because I felt a little embarrassed myself. I knew that even though I was doing a nice thing it was still a bit unusual. I explained that I wanted to give them a little something for always being so nice and helpful and that they should share the cookies with their co-workers who were off that day. I told them I wrote a note that they should show to their store manager or whoever evaluates their service.
One of the staff gave me a hug. They all smiled and seemed happy. Later that day I posted a picture I'd taken of the cookies and the note and posted it on Instagram tagging target and using all of the Target hashtags. I wanted to make sure the company knew they have some good workers at their Philadelphia West store.
A few days later I got a voicemail from the Pharmacy manager asking me to call him back. At first I was worried thinking something was wrong with a prescription. I called back and the manger explained that he wanted to personally thank me for the gift, the card, and Instagram shout out. He went on to explain that earlier that week another customer had issued a complaint against them and their performance rating had been lowered. The gift made them feel appreciated at a time when they really needed it.
When I dropped of the gift that day I left feeling really really good. After speaking to the manager I felt even better. I am so glad that I stuck to my original instinct and did not let all of those doubts and fears talk me out of doing a good thing and experiencing the Joy of doing something nice for others. I am going to try and follow my first instincts more often now.
Do you ever have a good idea and then talk yourself out of it within minutes? What was the idea? What kept you from following through? Do you think you can follow your own first instincts more often?
