Last month I had the great pleasure of speaking to the franchise partners of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? in Vancouver. But I wasn’t just a keynote speaker, I was a customer-to-be.
It just so happens that I’m a man with a lot of junk, who has a family with a lot of junk and, therefore, a garage whose insides haven’t seen the likes of a car in a long, long time.
So this week, after a robust junk–er–garage sale, I booked a time with the local GOT-JUNK? folks to have them come and haul away anything that hadn’t been sold or couldn’t be donated.
The “Truck Team” (their company language) that showed up–Mike and Jason–proved something that I (and others, certainly) have been saying for a long time: if you want your customers to love doing business with your company, make sure you and your employees love the company first.
And that’s exactly what I saw in Mike and Jason. Maybe they’d rather have a more glam job like, I dunno, co-CEOs of a Fortune 50 multinational conglomerate with a company jet–hell, who wouldn’t? But I have to say, they certainly didn’t act like they’d rather be doing anything else but hauling my stuff and–brace yourself–cleaning up afterward.
These guys love their company, and they’re proud of it. I’m not projecting here; I’m not putting words in their mouths. I know this because they told me. They told me with great admiration, for example, the story of how founder, Brian Scudamore, got the idea for the business while waiting in the drive-through at McDonalds. He was an 18 year old college student who started with one truck, they said, and now “he’s a billionaire or something.”
Then they told me about their recycling process because they want to help care for the environment, and their donation process to help take care of their community.
And, bottom line, they didn’t just de-junk my home; they gave me space–real, live garage space for our cars. A garage with cars in it! It’s almost disorienting. But they also gave me something I didn’t contract for:
Inspiration and awe that comes from witnessing an “un-inspiring” job done with heart and soul.
Pride. Love.
Ingredients of their great Junk business.
Don’t even try to tell me it’s not possible in yours.
Ah, it’s a great feeling when you can put a car back in the garage!
Ah, it’s a great feeling when you can put a car back in the garage!
Now that is what I call a great story. Thanks that’s cheared me up no end.
Now that is what I call a great story. Thanks that’s cheared me up no end.
Thanks Steve,
I have had a frustrating week and this story has just reminded me to tell my staff how great they are and how much I appreciate what they do every day. I hope my staff have the same passion as Mike and Jason when they go out and deal with our customers!
Thanks Steve,
I have had a frustrating week and this story has just reminded me to tell my staff how great they are and how much I appreciate what they do every day. I hope my staff have the same passion as Mike and Jason when they go out and deal with our customers!