Generosity to Clients Gets You Paid More

While finishing dinner at Olive Garden with my wife, it came time to pay the check. Our server comes back with the bill and a handful of Andes mint chocolates, my wife’s favorite!

Normally you’re only supposed to get two, one for each person. My server J.P. brought us like 8 little magical delights of delicious, minty goodness.

My wife asked her: “wow, so many??” To which J.P responded, “I like to give more.”

She probably broke the company policy of giving one candy per person, but her giving nature got the best of her and she was compelled to give more.

I haven’t forgotten about that experience at Olive Garden. I haven’t forgotten about J.P.’s generosity.

As entrepreneurs, sometimes we’ve been conditioned to only give clients what they paid for and not a drop more. We’re trained to watch the bottom line, not let customers ‘take advantage’ of us, and keep costs low and profits high.

But if we’re smart about things, being generous can create a sticky moment for our brand. Like the fact that I can’t forget my Olive Garden experience, we should look to create unforgettable generous moments in our businesses.

The Bible says:

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.  A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.  People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray Godʼs blessing on the one who is willing to sell. Proverbs 11:24‭-‬26 NIV

If you are not generous by nature, ask God to change your heart and add members to your team who are strong where you are weak. Then empower them to be generous on your behalf.

Effective entrepreneurs strive to be generous with others. We understa