I’ve spent over 40 years in the service industry, and this is both a blessing and at times a curse. It means that I’m acutely aware of the principles behind excellent service and the importance of the customer, and it also means that service failures I encounter along the way are tricky to tolerate.
However, in parallel I’ve also had the opportunity to consider service from a deeper perspective – that of being in service to the greater good. For me this means anything from volunteering and participating in projects that in my view serve a collective need to striving to live my life in a way that models a commitment to the greater good of humanity and the planet. This latter being about good values, right action and doing regular ‘housekeeping’ on my own shortcomings and foibles.
Service done well comes from the heart – from a true desire to be part of creating something better, whether within ourselves and/or for others. It’s not about servitude but about uplifting and making better. How do you see service?