I came up with the idea to call AT&T Wireless to pay them a compliment during a radio interview last Friday. The host of the show, Paula Granquist and I were discussing just how stressful it can be to work as a service rep in a call center. She observed, “When customers call, you can bet they aren’t calling to tell you how great you are.” After the show Paula and I stopped in the lobby to visit. She mentioned that she was going to call her wireless provider, Verizon, to tell the rep who answered how pleased she was with their service.

I decided to call my wireless provider AT&T Wireless to see what would happen. I placed the call yesterday and got an agent by the name of Curtis. As he verified my phone number and the name on the account, I detected a slight Texas drawl in his voice. “Hello,” I said, “You are probably going to think this is odd, but I thought I’d call you up and let you know how happy I am with AT&T’s service. I signed up when I got my iPhone a year or so ago. Aside from a few dropped calls, I have been very happy with the service. So, I thought I’d call and tell you how much I appreciate that.” Hearing nothing on the other end of the phone, I wondered if he hung up thinking I was a crank call. “Why … thank … you.” he said. I could hear the smile in his voice. “We try to do our best. I really do appreciate you calling to tell me. I very much appreciate it.”  As I was about to say good-bye, he said, “I do appreciate it.” three more times.                                                  

I wonder what the karmic effect would be if we all called our wireless provider for the sole purpose of complimenting them for a job well-done. Karma works by returning to you what you give to others. There’s nothing particularly mystical about this. It is a matter of cause and effect. If you’re friendly to others, you receive friendship. If you’re generous, people are more inclined to be generous to you.

This week pay it forward and see what happens.