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?

I’ve always been someone who puts myself last, long before I became a mom. Back in the Uni, living in the city away from my parents, I had to stretch my weekly allowance. So I’d rather spend on public transport fare, food, and school materials than do what other students did, like watch a movie or get what was trendy at the time. And when I eventually became a mom, that habit only became stronger. Putting myself last just felt natural. Delayed gratification wasn’t just something I practiced anymore; it became part of my lifestyle. I have a shopping app on my phone filled with things I want, sometimes over 200 items in my cart, but I never check out unless it’s for my kids or my husband. And when we’re at the mall and I see something I like, I always tell myself, “Next time.” And “next time” means “never mind.” Most of the things I own now are 5, 10+ years old. I always choose to save first and not spend. Even when something good happens, I don’t reward myself, I just move on. But a few moments recently made me pause. Last Mother’s Day, my husband surprised me with a new iPhone. I’ve always been an Android user because iPhones felt too expensive for me. I just need a phone where I can connect with my loved ones, watch a series or a movie, or capture moments with my family, that’s it. And he knows me well. He knew I would wait until my phone was completely beyond repair before I’d ever buy a new one. Before that, he bought me a pair of On Cloud shoes, my first new pair in a long time. And again, he knew exactly why: I’d rather spend on groceries than buy myself shoes. Those little moments made me realize something simple: It’s okay to reward yourself. It’s not irresponsible. It’s not too much. It’s just acknowledging that you matter, too. Delayed gratification is good, it teaches discipline and priorities. But putting yourself last all the time isn’t. You can save and still treat yourself once in a while. You can be practical and still enjoy something new. You can take care of everyone else without forgetting yourself.