Autopilot

There is something about blogging.  You put your life out there and just hope no one comes back telling you that you really are insane.  This is one of those kinds of posts…

My kids tease me about something I do.  I have been known, on occasion, to be taking them somewhere only to end up driving in another direction all together.  The other day, I was supposed to drop my daughter off at dance, but I just kept on going as if driving to work.  I was on autopilot.  My kids will now yell, “MOM, autopilot,” and I know exactly what happened. 

I had something similar happen to me when getting lunch the other day.  I pulled into the drive through window, ready to place my order, when I was told they were having problems with the drive through at that moment.  When I offered to go inside the restaurant, I was told that the problem was in fact with their computers.  SO…? I then asked them if I should visit another restaurant and was told, “Yes, that would be a good idea.” 

While they may seem like two different events, to me they are both examples of what happens when we do things the same way over and over again; in both cases, to our detriment.  When I am on autopilot, not only do I sometimes have to make awkward turns and arrive late, but I am missing out on everything else around me too?  How often have I arrived somewhere only to forget the journey that got me there?  And what do I miss by not paying attention?  For the restaurant, processing orders over and over the same way caused them to be completely disabled and miss out on business because no one knew what to do when the technology failed.  What did they miss out on?  Sales, yes… but what about the opportunity to break out of their box and creatively problem solve: How would that have energized their employees?  What if they had found a work around and provided service, would that have created loyal, passionate customers who had been wowed by the restaurant’s service?

So this week, I am trying something new.  I am going to challenge some of the things I have been doing the same way over and over again.  I will be taking different routes to work just to see what happens.  Who knows what else I will come up with.  But the exciting part?  All the cool things I will experience when I turn autopilot off. 

What about you?  Is there something you could challenge this week? 

Don’t forget our Slip N Slide Giveaway ends this week.  Check out our Good Clean Fun post for details.

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