An elderly woman who found a housecleaner whose service was extraordinarily good wanted to make certain that she didn't lose this great helper. What to do? Without fail, she praised everything that the woman did well and expressed gratitude whenever the cleaner did more than she was asked to do. She also slipped a few extra dollars into the pay envelope whenever the cleaner worked extra hours or deserved extra pay. She wasn't lavish; she was appropriately fair and thoughtful.

Anyone who has sought a helper who provides great service... a car repairman whose work can truly be trusted... a hairdresser who seems to get it right every time... knows how invaluable these people can be in your life. This is not an area where we want to slice the cost as much as possible; we usually want to make sure that the quality of the service we receive is appreciated and will continue.

Okay−so we just moved into town. How do we start putting together our team of people who provide needed services? We ask−friends, business associates, people we meet in any organization we join, whether social or professional or religious, and the real estate and mortgage professionals who helped us relocate. We seek out people with great reputations.

Then we treat them as well as they treat us. Remember−guiding someone to a professional who provides great service is one of the most appreciated things you can ever do! For assistance call Beth at 450-5208.