One Saturday morning, I woke up early and headed to the airport — flying two young men to Tuscaloosa for their first taste of collegiate life.
Our itinerary included watching the team, joining a massive tailgating event, and enjoying the Alabama vs. Texas Tech football game that evening. Things went off without a hitch, and it was truly an enjoyable day.
While there, a friend of mine invited us into the dugout to watch his team’s Saturday practice and scrimmage (the perfect way to spend a day for a former player like me).
One of the most remarkable moments occurred in that dugout. I noticed how the baseball players were trained in how to properly treat guests. Throughout the day, each player approached us, looked us in the eyes, shook our hands, and introduced themselves.
The coach later explained that those players have no idea who will be in the dugout, as they’re focused on the field. A guest could include:
- a high school player their coach is trying to recruit.
- a high-profile donor to the university.
- a professional scout.
Regardless of who makes an appearance, only one thing mattered to the coach — that each of his players welcomed the guests and remained friendly throughout each interaction.
The end result? Each young man made a lasting first impression.
The moral of the story is this: At Donovan, we understand the importance of first impressions. It’s why we’ve made it our mission to welcome others and foster genuine connections.
When you walk inside our doors, you’ll be greeted accordingly, as our staff works to make others feel comfortable. First impressions are everything. And when you work with us, you’ll feel welcome from day one.
Jeff Donovan
About HTJ...
Hold the Jargon isn’t your average boring ol’ newsletter bent on only selling you another overhyped service. It’s an occasional note I send out that’s a blend of personal and business. I hope you find this, and future editions, helpful.
