Audio Companion
See the picture above, this was me last week relaxing in my new RIO Beach Backpack Lounger from Academy Sports.
Please forgive my nearly closed eyes, but I’ve been dealing with some major sinus congestion for more than a week now. Sheer agony!
Anyway, for weeks I had been searching for a beach lounger, when I came across the perfect one on the Academy Sports Website. The color scheme perfectly matched my beach dining accessories from Tabitha Brown’s latest release at Target, it was light weight, and the straps were perfect for easy portability.
I ordered the lounger using a gift card that I received on my birthday last year. When I arrived at the store to pick up my order, I decided to use curbside pickup, since I was not feeling well. I selected the appropriate options to alert an associate that I was outside waiting. When the associate arrived, he immediately asked me for my ID. This posed a problem for me because I had lost my driver’s license at the beach, the previous weekend. Before uttering a word, I looked in my purse and retrieved the gift card that I used to make the purchase, my confirmation email, and my temporary driver’s license.
As I am doing all of this, I told the associate that I had lost my driver’s license, but I had all the items that I listed above as verification that I was in fact the person that placed and paid for the order.
The associate’s initial response was to refuse delivery. My response was, how will my picture ID assure you that I am the person who made the online purchase? Your website didn’t ask for a picture, so how would that help you validate the purchase and me as the purchaser?
We discussed the dilemma for a few minutes and then a second associate came out to my car whom I assume was a manager.
After about a 10-minute delay, I was able to get my order.
As I began driving away, I immediately thought to myself, I need this kind of protection in my life.
Protect Me Like Academy Sports Protects its Online Purchases!
The intention, the verification, and the validation of transacting with the appropriate party was top tier for me. Although I was the one who could not provide the needed information, I appreciate the steps taken by the store to ensure that I was in fact who I claimed to be.
Imagine if each of us took that same level of care in our everyday relationships. Instead of rushing into agreements with others, what if we took time to actually validate who they really are? I was able to gain the trust of the associates because I described the color of my dining accessories and how the colors complimented the lounger that I purchased. I also talked about my past trip to the beach and my intention of going back. All of this discussion helped the associates get to know a little about me and become comfortable with the decision to give me my lounger.
I’ve had a number of representatives show up in my life claiming to be someone whom they really were not. When I thought that I was dealing with someone who had integrity and was trustworthy, but in reality, they turned out to be just the opposite.
The lessons that I am taking from this encounter are:
- I will always show up as my authentic self, and I will expect others to do the same
- I will value the connections that can be made by simply engaging in a little small talk
- I will respect the boundaries and values of others, and I will expect others to show the same respect to me
These are simple truths that are now part of my #originsofpeace.
How about you? Are you showing up authentically, and do you have set expectations and values that others must adhere to?
There is a quote that says,
My intention is to be protected as well as Academy Sports protects its online purchases! What’s your intention?
Peace & Blessing!
Melissa
