This is the thing right!
I normally commute to work in public transport taken a few stops. I think a lot of us in Lagos should do that, you would learn a lot. #BusinessFactsOnStreets. BFOS
Take time out to walk on your street. You would get #BusinessFactsOnStreets.
My Ordeal
I came to the last bus stop few minutes away from my place of work. The bus drivers normally take turn to pick passengers to their destination. The drivers organize themselves to be in a queue. The queue is arranged in a first come first serve basics (Very impressive to me because that shows they are organized).
Programmers: think of the queue and stack data structure :wing:
Just remember they are normally not very organized.
This is normal
[Lagos Buses]
This is impressive
The Mini Bus drivers and the Passengers
The passengers usually board the bus at the head of the queue. Unfortunately for the driver he was not in his mini bus and for us the passengers we had to board the mini bus at the head of the queue so we did. One by one we filled the mini bus. When the mini bus was full, one of the drivers around to called on the owner of the filled bus in the spirit of unionist.
Now follow what played out,...
First the bus driver did not put engine oil in his bus. His bus was not ready to move. How did I know that, this is how? He came and quickly went for a bottle somewhere around his car (he uses the bottle as a funnel: ingenious I may say and a few would agree! The #DesignThinking)
He continued to the engine not saying anything to the already seated passengers (He expected us to wait for him to do what he was supposed to do early #PoorCustomerService and poor quality of service).
Now what I did…
I was not very happy with him, why?
- He did not do what was suppose to do to make his business function that morning
- He waited for us to fill the bus before he did what he is suppose to do (put oil in his bus)
- He did not request for permission (he was using our time)
- He did not apologize
So I told him what he was doing is wrong and I said it is a very poor customer service and if all the passengers should come down from his bus he would loss his turn of getting his money.
Do what you can do to make your business function well. Do not wait to have the customer at your doorstep before you prepare to serve her/him.
My little piece of advice
Yes, your lecturer could teach you old theories that has no real application in the business world and you are forced to listen, but he cannot say you should not go to the library and read books, he cannot stop you from attending seminars and workshops.
Although you cannot reduce the price of fuel, but you can reduce your expenses to respond to the change or rearrange your investments to find more passive income. Although the readjustment makes you sad, try hard to fake a smile when a customer comes to your business.
If you can prepare your office, service, product to make a happy customers do it. Bring in that positive vibes, and you would be surprise how you would #MakeADifferent in your corner.
This is my prayer every morning when I wake up
Whatsoever I find my hand to do, I do it well to the best of my ability. And if I fall short I am ready to learn and improve to get the best result next time.