This past weekend, 60 martial arts students from the martial arts organization I teach at competed in an out-of-state tournament.
One of our goals was to get the whole team together for a celebratory dinner when it was over.
The reservation we were looking to make was for 80ish on a Saturday night—so you can imagine the types of responses we got when we inquired.
Some restaurants flat out denied us. Some said they don’t take reservations and to just show up—that they think it’d be alright. Some said yes, but we wouldn’t be able to sit together.
All of these answers are completely understandable. It’s an over-the-top request.
But where we ended up going won our business because they answered differently. Not only did they answer with a confident “Yes,” but they answered with gratitude.
…And not only that, but once we arrived, they delivered.
…And not only that, but the manager bought my instructor and I drinks and gave me a discount on my bill.
…And he kept expressing his gratitude throughout the night over and over again.
It made me feel like we made the right choice… like we formed a bond/connection… like I’d like to take the squad—my business—back there next year.
And not because of anything major he did. We brought him thousands of dollars in business… and he comped my instructor and I less than a hundred dollars in drinks/credit…
It was the gratitude that made all the difference.