We had seven games this weekend: Four soccer games and three basketball games. Between two of the games, my wife asked my folks if they could transport our daughter home so we could go “do some shopping”. But once we were in the car, she said that all she really wanted was a little bit of time with me…

About ten to fifteen years ago there was a big push by family therapists to get parents to spend “quality” time with their kids. But recents studies suggest that quantity is more important than quality. This applies especially to children but also to spouses and, believe it or not, to customers.

We have been brainwashed to believe that customers want to get in and get out. We’ve been told by customers that they don’t want help; that they are “just looking”. But we know that they are just afraid, and studies prove they really do want someone to spend time with them.

When customers come in for service, we tend to hurry them along. But research and our own experiences have proven that customers want to spend time with advisors at their car. They want to learn, they want to be heard, and most important: They want to know that someone cares.

I recommend you resolve to spend more time with those who are important: You’re family, your friends and your customers. I’ll leave you with some thoughts about time from some famous philosophers:

• "Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you." – Carl Sandburg
• "Time is the most valuable thing one can spend." – Theophrastus
• "Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity." – Henry Van Dyke

And for the car salesperson everywhere:

"Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so." – Douglas Adams

Happy Holidays and May God richly bless you and yours…