Two Cokes and a Turkey.

So many limousine stories to tell, and so little time to write. Here's a seasonal tale:

Jim is The Boss's best customer. We drive him to area airports, pick him up from those same airports, take him to meetings all over Florida, and transport his local employees to where they need to be.

The Boss is kept on his toes keeping up, as changing flights to get him home ten minutes earlier is nothing for Jim. He married a younger woman a few years ago, and when he's not working, wants to maximize his time with her. This is a man with clear priorities.

From a chauffeur's point of view, he's a delight. He'll tell you what he wants, and leave you to do it. In the back of the sedan, he works on his computer, or talks on the phone without the self-consciousness some folks have. He trusts us to be discreet, and his trust is rewarded.

This raises the larger question of the power gradient. I am critically aware of being a servant of my customers, that my job is to take orders, drive safely, and speak when spoken to. Jim's good because he gets that relationship. We both know where we stand, and life is therefore simple for both of us. Some clients don't have this skill.

Driving him to Orlando Airport a while ago, he asked if I had a Coke in the cooler. I always carry bottled water, but not exotica like fizzy drinks. The next time I collected him, I made sure I had a couple of Cokes on ice. This, as you can imagine, made him very happy. He spent half an hour merrily sipping and burping, a good sign from an otherwise gruff man.

Naturally, I make sure I have his drink on board all the time now. He's always gracious in saying thanks, and I told him last time that he's always looked after us, so I'm very happy looking after him. It's such a small thing, and yet it makes him so pleased.

I think this is because he spends most of his time ensuring his employees can do as well as possible. When someone shows the smallest consideration for him, it stands out, being so unusual.

So when a Christmas hamper arrived this week, with compliments from Jim and (wife) Sarah, it shouldn't have been a surprise. Only two drivers were so blessed, from a total of ten who had driven him during the year. This is a man who knows how to treat his servants.

Tangents: Let Them Drink Diet Coke, Hampers, Chauffeur Family Tree.

Technorati: Power Gradient, Coke, Hamper, Consideration.