Yesterday I was caught with a meeting to coordinate and a handphone that died early in the day. So I went around the office asking for a Motorola phone charger and to my surprise not many cool people uses a Moto phone. When I asked Elaine the sister from Missions if she has one, she replied no. Before I walked away, she managed to ask further why I needed one. I told her my battery is dead and I needed to use my handphone urgently that day. She listened and thought for a while and then took out from inside her drawer a new handphone and said "use this, its a spare". I was thrilled that it was a nice Motorola V3 Red Edition, fully charged. Not only I got a working handphone, I've got a cool looking one too. I feel like David Beckham even if its only for a day.

On the same day I was at a CD shop. Being a big fan of local folks doing well world class stuff in the world arena I went to the counter to ask the assistant if they have local croner Jacintha's Autumn Leave live album?"....He gave me a quick reply "Oh, no, we don't". He was wide eyed as if shocked by my question. I looked at him expecting a follow through remark along the lines of ..." we don't but I know where you may be able to get it......" or "... we don't have, but we can order it for you ", or even "...oh we ran out but the new shipment is coming next week" .... Instead he just looked down and continued his work behind the counter. I was left hanging there, wondering... I was made to feel silly about going to a CD shop to look for a CD.

We can add value to people who come to us with questions. We may not have what is requested but we can be helpful and provide more than what's expected. It's about being thoughtful and about adding value to people. It's about shinning and making a difference. I truly learn this lesson yesterday.