Lagniappe

What I love about local business is a lagniappe. 

I fix computer problems for a living. I love meeting the folks who want my help (and their families and their pets). My favorite part of the job, once I’ve fixed what I was asked to fix, is to find something else that helps my customers that I can throw in for no additional charge. It’s surprising how many times someone will mention something that bugs them about their work flow or a tool they’re using that allows me to say, “May I show you something that might make that task easier?” 

It’s fun to find these helpful ideas and to present them to folks. In Cajun country I believe they call this a lagniappe, but that’s “a little something extra” for the customer or the guest, this is really a little something extra for me. Funnily, keeping an ear out for these things that would help other folks makes it easier for me to recognize it when someone else is doing the same thing for me. Really good wait-staff folks seem to do it a lot and I make sure to thank them for that specific thing that they’ve done for someone at our table. 

Whenever I hear something like, “people are always out for themselves” or “the world is broken”. I think of all the folks who have done nice things for me. It’s not always in business either, of course. So, thanks to those of you who listen and respond to what other folks need as you go through your day. I think it is probably a nice lagniappe for you. 

Alan Thornton
Decatur Computer Help
4049324348