How to mortify Riccie

I’m going to write this. Because I have to. So just bear with me.
I deal mostly with the ‘problem children’ at work. It’s my job to figure out how to solve their problem and make them happy again. I don’t always succeed…some people are never satisfied…but then again…sometimes this happens:
Yesterday afternoon I got a really sweet older customer who was terribly frustrated (extremely p.o.’d). He was spitting fire when he got a hold of me. I listened carefully to what he was saying and realized his problems were actually very simple to fix. I patiently calmed him down and walked him through several things he didn’t understand. I clarified a few points for him, and stayed with him until I was sure he got it. One of the things was as simple as adding a contact to his address book. Simply enough for most people, but for him it had developed into a huge, frustrating problem because he didn’t understand how to do it.
He’s one of my success cases. By the time we were done, which only took about ten minutes or so, he was singing my praises and asking me out to dinner. This kind of stuff embarrasses me…my viewpoint is that I am simply doing my job; it’s what I get paid for. I didn’t tell him that, though. I simply thanked him and asked if I could assist him in any other way.
I shouldn’t have asked that.
Because then he asked for my boss. Who just so happened to be three desks away from me. (Ever wonder if the stars are aligned just right?) He insisted on speaking to my boss, and I’m wondering if something went wrong…usually that’s when someone wants to speak to a ‘higher up’, but he seemed so pleasant and insisted to speak with my boss right now. So I grab Bill, gave him the short version of the call, and Bill grabs a headset to talk to the customer. I am still listening in. And this guy starts in, telling Bill how wonderfully patient I was with him, how no one had ever taken the time to explain things so clearly to him, how much of an asset I am to my company, that I needed a huge raise, and that Bill must hire a bunch more people like me.
I wanted to melt right through the floor.
Bill is looking me straight in the eye as this guy is singing my praises. I know I’m as red as a beet, and Bill knows how uncomfortable this makes me. So he eggs the guy on. I wanted to rip the phone out and yell, this is my job! It’s what I’m paid to do! Bill assured the customer that he knew what an asset I was, and yes, he will pass on this commendation to his higher ups, and how he was going to make sure I stayed happy and on his team. Bill assured the customer how happy he was with me. Finally. FINALLY this guy got off the phone.
I apologized to Bill, telling him I thought it would be a quick one or two sentence…didn’t realize the guy was going to go into a five minute love-fest speech over me.
Bill just smiled at me. Which in itself is scary. You have to understand. Bill is retired military. His facial expression never changes…no matter what kind of news he is given. I’ll bet he’s an excellent poker player.
As I sat back at my desk I realized that was the second time I got Bill to smile. The first time was when I called his bluff at our first meeting. Hmm…..
Does it end there? Nooooooo……
Bill went back to his desk, wrote out nearly everything this customer said…and emailed it to EVERYONE…including the top dog.
I. Wanted. To. Die.
After which, Bill pulled me off the floor for about an hour, and talked to me about my work, my progress, things I can work on, and how extremely pleased he is with me and how he wants me to remain on his team.
It is so difficult for me to ‘do’ compliments. I accepted them as graciously as I possibly could, but Bill knew this was embarrassing for me.
This was difficult to write. Part of me is hoping I only did a half-assed job. But I needed to write it down. I am good at what I do. There. I’m not trying to be arrogant or a big shot. It’s just the truth. I enjoy the hell out of my job. And I work with some awesome people. And that is the case even when my insides are falling apart.
Now. I’ve done it.

Not my will, but Thy will be done.
All of my love,
Riccie

(((Brian)))

Brian, you have absolutely touched my heart. Your response made me cry! (A good thing.) Thank you.

Actually, if I may, I wish to thank all of my online friends. I’m afraid to list everyone because I may miss someone and I don’t want that, so please accept my blanket statement. You guys are fantastic…I really mean this with all of my heart.

Not my will, but Thy will be done.