Thank You For Flying...

As mentioned previously I've been moonlighting 3 nights a week as a lift attendant at a nice little ski area in my town; a small hill, perfect for learning and participating in the fine winter sports of skiing, snowboarding and tubing.

While most "lifties" prefer to isolate themselves in the warm lift shack, I enjoy getting outside in the cold, moving around and speaking with the "customers". As one of the faces of the area, I feel it is important to show these skiers/riders/tubers a good time, make them feel welcome, and make sure they come back for more. While this is of zero financial benefit to me, I think it is my positive upbringing, as well as years of sales and customer service experience that has been cemented into my mentality. Into my steeze, if you will.

Some nights I work the conveyor, or the Magic Carpet Ride as I like to call it. The lift is often packed with small children, and for many of whom it's their first time on the snow. Which can be intimidating. Some are scared. Many are cold. Many wish they were inside playing video games. I make sure to stand outside with a smile, greet them at the "summit" with a high five or fist bump, and thank them for flying, "McIntyre Air, please fly with us again soon." I will also, on occasion, tell them they're getting better and better on the slopes with each run they take, regardless if they are horrible. And why do I do this? Yes, the sales mentality, blah, blah, however on three separate occasions I've had little tykes approach me as they're leaving and say, in a soft, childlike, humble tone, "Thank you very much. You made my night fun." Needless to say, this humbles me.

Last night I had the pleasure of working a private party on the Tubing Park. This particular party included employees of PSNH (NH's monopolistic electric company) and several key clients and families. The wind was whipping and the air was raw. Translation: it was f'n freezing.

As our guests reached the summit, I made sure to have a little fun with them, setting up races on our four lane track, even letting them "bend" the rules from time to time, allowing them to link together and ride down 3, 4, 5, 6 and even 7 at a time. I began races with the mentality of a NASCAR starter, telling them to "start after a 3-count, at the drop of my arm." Kind of like in the Grease, racing for pinks. At one point, I checked in with one particular lady who seemed a bit weary of the fast moving track. I paid attention to her next few runs to make sure she did not die, or at least collide with any of the other Bode Miller/Dale Jr/Cool Runnings wannabees on the track. After she returned from a trip to the lodge to warm up, I explained that we missed her out here in the cold, and that one more run would qualify her as a tubing pro. And that lane #4 had bit of "magic" on it... Just gentle BS'ing, but of course, with a smile on my face.

The party began to shuffle out as their alotted time ended, but before this woman left she approached me and thanked me for rembering her name and showing her party an overall good time. In her exact words, "Wow. You're really good, I can't believe you're rembering each one of us!" Again, I was humbled. "Just trying to make your experience here at the McIntyre Tubing Center as epic as possible."

So as I continue to recieve comments regarding my exceptional customer service, I wonder if somehow, somewhere, someone out there is listening. Someone who is looking to add the Utley experience and repetoire to their firm. Or at least refer me to someone else or something.

And while I'm merely acting in a manner which I consider normal, I can't help but wonder if this good karma will someday, somehow lead to something special...

Followed up today on the email I sent below to the Ad Agency. B*tch receptionist acted as if I was Al Qaida.