Of importance of a smile

Hello.

This is my very first blog entry. I've tried keeping a journal before, but it has never really grown into a habit.

Anyways, for my very first entry I would like to tell you about the importance of a smile. Of course such observation is based on my personal experience.

Last summer I worked as a salesman in a not-so-big home appliances store. I would wake up at 7:30 am, brush my teeth, have my breakfast and at around 8 am I'd leave home. The trip to work would take me approximately 45 minutes by metro + getting to the metro on foot = 1 hour +/- 5-10 minutes. From 9 am to 10 am we (salespeople) had to wipe dust off the appliances we were responsible for, print out pricelists to see if there were any changes made overnight, check for any stock-outs, print new price tags, etc. At 10 am the shop would open and consumers would start flowing in, looking, asking, comparing, calling their significant-others for consultation, doubting, thinking, considering, and so on and so forth. And of course we would start explaining, persuading, convincing, proving, praising and talking and talking and talking... all the way until 9 pm. And one other thing: we weren't allowed to sit down, always on our feet, except for the 40 minutes we were given for lunch. After 5 or 6 pm I'd usually start getting tired.
I also have to explain one peculiarity of people in Russia, especially in Moscow. They like arguing. They like getting into ugly quarrels, screaming, yelling and so on. Faces - if not gloomy, - no sparks of happiness (of course I mean in general).
So, when I, tired after all the noise produced by the appliances (TV's, stereos, computers, etc.), would see a smile meant for me and an actually meant 'thank you' - as opposed to those said mechanically - from a customer, I would of course feel pleased and actually motivated :D
Only when working in that shop have I fully realised how pleasant it is to receive a smile... and a 'thank you', of course.

So, speaking on behalf of all salespeople, please, next time, when you shop, smile and say a hearty 'thank you' to those who serve you, because even though they receive money for their services, the warmth of human heart is something that means a lot to everyone.

Thank you :)