McDonald's Secret Weapon

There is a McDonald’s a few streets down from where I live. It’s on a busy road that leads into downtown Columbia, SC.  I stop in once in awhile to grab some coffee as do thousands of others it seems during the morning commute.  I go inside because it’s faster than the drive-thru and each time I’ve gone in the restaurant there sitting on a stool is a well dressed man in his 70’s.  He greets each person who walks through the door with a huge smile and a pleasant good morning!  The man does not work for McDonald’s he is a customer.  He has a cup of coffee and a bible. I had a little extra time one day so I sat with my coffee and just watched.

I watched him greet everyone…everyone.  He did not hand out bible tracts, did not go up to people, he sat on his stool and with a million dollar smile and a warm cheerful voice said good morning.  It was hilarious to watch the look on the face of people when they walked in and received such a greeting at McDonald’s.  Some said good morning in return, however, most were so shocked they said nothing (they would say have a nice day on the way out).  I watched as a person walked in who clearly was not having a good morning (you could tell by the look on her face) she received her good morning and gave the man a strange look, however, by the time she made it to the counter she had a smile on her face and her day was made brighter.  She told the man thank you on the way out.  I thought that was an interesting response, it seemed she needed to hear and see something that placed her morning into perspective.

I stayed for about twenty minutes watching this unfold with each person who walked through the door.  After awhile the man took his coffee and bible, shook a few hands with the staff and people he must see often and went on his way.  McDonald’s could not pay for a more effective public relations campaign.  However, this was not a PR event, rather someone who has a love for people and was intuitive enough to know the right place and time to make a difference.

Did he make a difference?  You bet!  That cheerful good morning and smile had a different meaning to all those who walked though the door that day.  Tomorrow try saying good morning to all those you meet and watch their reaction.  Take note of how you feel after you’ve said this to ten people.  I bet you’ll feel great and it may become a daily habit!