When we checked out today my cashier at Whole Foods asked if I wanted to donate one dollar to the Whole Planet Foundation, a micro-loan program that supports entrepreneurs in developing countries. I said yes and one dollar was added to my bill. Subtract out the twenty-cent credit I received for bringing my own bags, and my donation was only eighty-cents.
After checking out we sat down in one of the store booths to enjoy our organic breakfast blend coffee and snacks, a chocolate croissant for me and two oatmeal raisin cookies for my husband. Sitting there I decided I wanted a salad for later. So I left the cart and my husband behind and went back to get salad, and a lemonade. The lemonade was a last minute request from my husband as I walked away.
Checking out, again, I decided to go to the express lane. I only had three items (I had added a can of cherry vanilla soda at the last minute). I heard the cashier ask the man in front of me if he wanted to donate to the Whole Planet Foundation. He said no.
I knew she was going to ask me, too. But, what struck me was how she asked.
The first cashier had asked, “Do you want to donate a dollar to the Whole Planet Foundation?” And I said yes.
The next conversation went a little different when the second cashier asked, “Do you want to donate to the Whole Planet Foundation?”
I smiled, and said, “yes’, knowing the next question.
“How much?”
I knew they had scanable UPC cards for $1 and $5, and since I want to support programs like this I said, “Five Dollars.”
Her face lit up and she thanked me. She was happy and I was happy.
Did you notice the difference?
The first cashier asked me a closed question with only two options, yes or no. I would have donated more, but I wasn’t given the chance.
The second question posed by the second cashier was opened ended and invited me to make my own choice of how much to donate.
Going forward in my business and my life I need to remind myself to ask opened ended questions.
So when I ask myself, “Do I want to write a new blog post today?” I need to remind myself that this is a closed question with only two option, yes and no.
The better question, and the one I will ask myself from now on is, “What am I going to write about today?”
What questions do you ask yourself and others in your personal life and professional life? Are they open or closed ended? How can you change how you frame your questions?
For another example of this technique check out Seth Godin’s blog “The Panhandlers Secret” at http://sethgodin.typepad.com/.
As a side note, I would suggest to Whole Foods to provide additional donation amounts, including an ‘other’ amount and to provide a brochure or postcard with additional information about this organization and how to support it.
Comment on this blog or email me at sandy@thedreamingcafe.com
And, thanks again for another great week. Don’t forget to look for The Dreaming Cafe weekly email message in your INBOX tomorrow. And if you haven’t signed up yet, and joined The Dreaming Cafe community, when will you? email me today, sandy@thedreamingcafe.com
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