A post on tipping because ‘Tis the season and being nice all 4 seasons!

It’s that time of year again. To tip everyone for doing (or going above and beyond) their job. I believe in tipping very generously because I used to be a waiter and a caddy.

In the service industry there is nothing more frustrating than dealing with someone who works you to death…just because they can.

However, I think it’s just as bad when people in a service industry believe they can do nothing and expect a tip.

Tipping is fascinating to me because it’s a measure of a person’s integrity. Especially, if it’s a one shot tip like going to a random restaurant in a different city.

If you’re picking up the tab no one knows what you’re leaving except the server. If someone else is paying, you have no idea what they’re leaving, and they know that. The old “if no one sees, it doesn’t count.”

If you’re in a group, no one wants to be labeled as cheap so they’ll tip well. “Sure, what’s an extra few bucks?!”

But you better believe when it’s just the server and the customer – the real person comes out! I’ve caddied for multi-millionaires who were so cheap it’s incredible. And these were guys that paid thousands and thousands of dollars to belong to a country club.

The sad part is these guys were hated. It’s one thing to be cheap but it’s another to be a complete a$$hole and cheap! And it’s just completely dumb to be cheap and an a$$hole at your own country club where everyone knows exactly who you are!

Interestingly enough, all the cheapskates seemed miserable with their life.

If you’re going to join a country club but not be able to tip well, you shouldn’t belong in the first place.

One of the main reasons why I did well as a caddy and a waiter is because I enjoying going above and beyond for people. I like making people happy. It’s fun.

It’s also one of the reasons why I wanted to be in a B to C business as opposed to a B to B business. I love dealing directly with the end users.

I just got ‘the’ holiday card from my building with 25 people I’ve never heard of. It turns out that being a good doorman and building a (good) business aren’t so different after all.

A doorman knows everything about our lives; probably a little too much!

A good doorman actually takes an interest in his customers. He cares about you (his customer). And it’s so easy for him to care because he can see what’s going on in your life.

He knows:

What you are doing and where you are going. Your work hours better than anyone.

Your favorite delivery food and how often you eat it. If you exercise.

When you go shopping and what you are ordering via mail. Your friends and family and how often you hang out with them.

Who you are seeing (and who you shouldn’t be seeing).

His job is to make your life as easy as possible by helping you solve little problems. Whether it’s holding packages, letting workers up to your apartment, holding doors open, or whatever the case may be.

If he’s a superstar, he’ll take the time to learn about you, making sure to establish that emotional connection. He’ll go out of his way to greet you in the morning. He’ll run to open the door for you.

He acknowledges you and shows his appreciation and leaves you with a lasting impression as you take on the day.

In fact, a good doorman is sincere 365 days a year 24/7 since the day you moved in. Sure, we all have our bad moments. You make it up next time, though. We are all forgiving.

But, doesn’t it make you cringe when all of the sudden your doormen are being extra nice?

When a doorman just expects tips just because he’s a doorman and is being extra nice just because it is holiday time people sense that in .1 seconds. If he really cared about serving people and wanted to make a difference, people would sense that too. They’d appreciate it. And guess what? They’d tell their neighbors how much they love the guy and make sure he was well taken care of.

Here’s the key to being a good doorman: Act like a caring person who likes to go above and beyond.

Here’s the key to being a superstar doorman: Actually, BE a caring person who likes to go above and beyond. (If you’re not, you’re in the wrong business. Because it’s much easier to be than to act.)

Here’s a post I wrote almost two years ago about my terrible doormen who thought everything was coming to them!