Earlier this week, I brought my Infiniti I30 in for service at the Infiniti dealer. My car, purchased on my birthday in October 1999, now has over 145,000 miles on it.  It has performed very well over the years.  Outside of normal maintenance issues, I have had little concern that when I turned the ignition key, the engine would start.  When I pressed on the gas pedal, the car moved; and when I pressed on the brake, the car stopped – pretty simple and straightforward.

Everything was okay … until just a few weeks ago.                                                    
                                                    
It seemed that my I30 did not like the cold mornings.  In fact, it didn’t like being left alone for hours at a time.  When restarted, it would start, but when I pressed on the gas, the engine would hesitate as the RPMs raced forward.                                                    
                                                    
“Oh no … not the transmission!”                                                    
                                                    
After two hours of diagnostic evaluation at the dealership, I received a call from the Infiniti Service Department.  The very polite technician stated that there was nothing wrong with the car.  They were unable to replicate the problem, and they wanted to know if they could keep the car overnight and try again tomorrow morning.  I hesitated to answer.  Despite the comfort and performance of a complimentary Infiniti G35, I wanted my own car.  I had a lot of things to do the next day, and I wanted this problem resolved today.

“Mr. Hebeler, how can we make it easy for you?”                                                    
                                                    
Wow, now there’s a concept I like – make it easy.                                                     
                                                    
After stating that the easiest thing for me would be to pick up the car on Sunday, they readily agreed and thanked me for the opportunity to be of service.                    

Wow, another great concept – the opportunity to be of service.                                                     
                                                    
These two concepts – “make it easy” and “opportunity to be of service” got the “Friday Story” side of me thinking:                                                       
                                                    
     How can we make it easy...                                                    
          ·         For our families to learn and grow in each other’s love everyday?                                            
          ·         To support our friends’ dreams and hopes?                                                    
          ·         For our work projects and ideas to add great value to our customers?                               

It must be tied to the second concept:                                                    
                                                    
     How can we have the opportunity to be of service...                                                   
          ·         To our families?                                                    
          ·         To our friends?                                                    
          ·         To our workplaces?                                                    
                                                    
We need to make it easy!  Easy to understand.  Easy to use.  Easy to add value.  Easy to fall in love with.  Easy to improve.                                                    
                                                    
Now you are saying, “Hey, that’s not so easy.”                                                    
                                                    
It all starts with opening ourselves up for the possibilities, and saying, “How can I make it easy?”  What follows will amaze and delight you as the opportunity to be of service becomes crystal clear.

How clear?  Crystal clear!                                                                                                    

Until Next Friday,