The Power of Likeability

On the weekend I went camping with my son Jack (that’s him and I – I’m the tall one! – prior to doing the Noosa Triathlon last year as Team Sinclair).

Just before we started cooking the evening meal a ferocious storm hit and put our plans for a sausages in bread for dinner onto the back-burner.

So instead we headed into the nearby small country town and found the local hotel.

A Kind Gift To A Friend

Earlier that day Jack had dropped off a ‘Congratulations’ card and a box of chocolates to a friend who won his football team’s Best & Fairest award (the US equivalent is the MVP I think).

Jack couldn’t attend the presentation night because he was off on a Scout hike, and wanted to congratulate his friend who had been particularly encouraging to him during the year.

Before dinner I were discussing with Jack the many benefits of doing something unexpected and nice like that for his friend.

• makes them feel good
• raises their self esteem

I also mentioned how when you do something nice for people, they’re way more likely to do something nice for you.

People who you like are much more likely to like you in return.

The Cook Doesn’t Make Garlic Bread On The Weekends

Just then we went up and ordered dinner. We both had steaks, Jack had a lemonade and I ordered a beer.

I also asked if we could have a serving or 2 of garlic bread but the waitress told me the cook doesn’t make garlic bread on the weekends.

The bill came to $44.70. I paid with a $50 note and said to the waitress, “Thanks, keep the change and buy yourself a drink.”

The waitress was very excited by this and said she rarely receives a tip.

(Here in Australia, the custom is to only give a tip for fantastic service. A tip isn’t given as a matter of course -the expectation American service personnel have of receiving a tip is one that is alien to Australian visitors to the US.)

Hot, Fresh & Free Garlic Bread

10 minutes later the waitress appeared at our table with fresh, piping hot garlic bread which she delivered with a conspiratorial whisper of “I had the cook make up some specially……there’s no charge.”

It’s the Power of Likeability and the Law of Reciprocity.

And a great example for a little kid.