I recently had 2 different experiences as a "consumer" that left me feeling opposite ways- One at Costco Tire Center. 🚗 The other at LabCorp having blood drawn. 💉🩸 After bringing my SUV in for "free" regular maintenance to balance and rotate my tires, I drove off the lot with the sense that I did my automotive duty. Until 2 days later when the "tire error light" showed up on my dash. It stuck around after inflating my tires, so I brought the car back. Apparently it was my TPMS sensor(s)... From the scheduling of another appointment, receiving a gruff phone call telling me 3 of the 4 sensors were apparently shot, to reluctantly "trusting" the mechanic to just replace all 4 because the inconvenience of this whole process wasn't worth carrying on over $270. Didn't they just have my car in for service and remove all the tires? Were the sensors working then? Did they even check them? Why or why not? ● I didnʼt feel informed. ● I didnʼt feel empowered. ● I felt put on the spot. Like my time and resources were being wasted. Like my intelligence was being tested. To top it off, when I pick my car up I spent 15 minutes meandering throughout the huge parking lot bumbling to find the car parked 1/4 mile away behind the building. Contrast that with getting blood work done after a doctor consultation. I picked LabCorp over Quest. The testing site was inside of a Walgreens store. I walked in, without an appointment, spent 2 minutes scanning my cards at a tablet kiosk. Got called in within 60 seconds, efficiently sucked out vials and vials of blood, and I was back in my car 5 minutes later. I literally smiled from ear to ear and told the lab technician. I felt like a winner! Amazing how these 2 distinct experiences colored my senses so differently. As of today: I'll be reluctant to go back to Costco Tire Center. Labcorp is new testing facility. But how consistent or different will my next experience be at each?? What is every one of your customers feeling? Can they count on that feeling every single time?

Being in the sales world I have wrestled with this debate: Is comparing yourself to other reps hurting your confidence and performance more than it helps? This is applicable to not just sales people! I have always been a competitive person and I can't help myself but compare myself to others, but does this help or hurt me? Sometimes it gets me fired up and sometimes it makes me question if I have what it takes. Can you balance both ?