I’m sitting at the Thurgood Marshall Airport in Baltimore (BWI) waiting for my flight to Denver. I just spent a few days here for a Mastermind Session with some fellow business professionals talking about everything from business planning to customer experience to personal development.
On the way to the airport, one of my hosts, Doug Sandler, and I stopped for lunch. Doug wanted me to experience something “local” rather than the commodity restaurants like Applebee’s or Chili’s. He selected Timbuktu. It’s part liquor store, part tavern, part restaurant. In other words, is was #PureBaltimore.
Meet Pete
As we sat at the bar of this classic “neighborhood tavern” we were greeted by a smile and a soft-tossed bar napkin.
“Greetings guys. What’ll ya have?”
His inquiry was genuine. His smile was real. His wrinkles, gray hair and slow gait were authentic. This guy was the perfect ambassador to welcome a first-timer like me to this establishment. His name was Pete and you instantly felt like he was your friend…and you were his friend too. The only thing between you was the bar and the only thing he was hiding were the stories and tales from his time serving Baltimoreans over the years.
We ordered our sandwiches and beer and I asked Pete, “How long ya been here?”
“It’ll be 40 years next spring.”
“Wow,” I replied. “Are you the longest tenured staff member here?”
He simply smiled and said “yes.”
We talked about the bar/restaurant business and the history of the Timbuktu. He easily rolled through the different managers and owners and proudly discussed his fellow “long time” servers, cooks and other employees.
Share One of Your Favorite Stories
As we were cashing out to get me to BWI for my flight, I asked Pete to share one of his favorite stories or famous customers he might have served since 1977. Pete simply grinned and said “Just one?”
He remembered Baltimore Colts great Johnny Unitas coming in after retirement and sitting at the end of the bar almost every day for lunch. “He always ordered a NY Strip and a cold glass of milk.” He told us of Oriole greats Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell coming in for cocktails. He pointed to the corner table where chef Bobby Flay once sat. He shared a story of Jermaine Lewis, wide receiver form the NFL’s Ravens being a regular.
It was truly one of those moments that you wish you had either found Timbuktu earlier or flown out later. Pete clearly had more stories to share. He was just getting started.
What’s Your Story?
It’s understandable that you might not have 40 years in your current role. Heck…some of you might not have 40 years on this planet. Some of you are story listeners and not story tellers but we all have a story or two to tell if we think about it. The question I want you to ask yourself is “what is my story”? What’s that anecdote or tale that you’d tell when a visitor or first-timer experiences you or your service, business or product? Who are those clients from the past that can offer credibility or conformation that you’ve “been there and done that”? What’s going to make you memorable?
Cheers Pete. Thanks for the tasty Reuben, the thirst-quenching beer and the comfy seat.
Better yet, thanks for sharing your story.