Among many other “goings-on” in life, I can’t explain where I come up with my nightly dreams. They are extremely detailed and often times creative. And I am neither detailed nor creative.
Nonetheless, there I was in my latest dream entering a coffee shop I frequent regularly. I might add that this particular dream is a recurring one. (Something else I have yet to come to grips with.)
I entered and as I usually do, greeted the owner by name. Normally, he returns the greeting with a smile and by saying cheerfully, “Mike, how is your day unfolding so far?” But today, (in my latest dream) he barely acknowledged my presence. Obviously, he had other things, and perhaps more pressing things on his mind, and at the moment my presence was not a priority. I felt dissed. After all, I am a pretty cool guy. The least you can do is acknowledge my presence.
The dream ran on but to be honest, I can’t remember the rest. But oddly enough when I awoke, I began thinking about the underlying message in that particular sequence of my dream.
Never a truer line was ever sung than the one from the popular TV series CHEERS when they sing, “Sometimes, you want to go where everybody knows your name.”
Think about it. When you hear your name, more often than not, your ears perk up. Somebody is talking to you. Your attention is turned toward the direction where the sound of your name is coming from. At least for the moment, you find yourself listening.
Compare these two greetings and see if you can spot the difference.
- “How ya doing?”
- “Mike, how are you?”
- “Meet me at the diner at 10.”
- “Mike, I’ll meet you at the diner at 10.”
The addition of one simple word totally changes the tone of the message. All the owner of the café in my dream had to say was, “Hey, Mike,” and I would have been satisfactorily acknowledged.
Bottom Line: You can make your prospects and clients feel both welcome and more comfortable by simply salting their name into your communications now and then.
And while I have you, a lot of people are quick to admit that they are bad at remembering names. They offer this shortcoming as if it is perfectly okay. IT ISN’T.
It is an indication that you don’t care about me. I have a better idea. Consider remembering names as a skill worth developing; one you need to get good at if you are sincerely interested in growing your business.
When you call me “Mike,” I will like you until you prove me wrong. My advice? Call me Mike, and then prove me right.
Mike Marchev is always looking for a few more proactive travel professionals to join his Sales and Marketing Club, mike@mikemarchev.com.
*** You want more to think about? Check out my weekly podcast (Miked Up Marchev). Also listed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, and iHeartRadio.