Have you ever been treated with so much extraordinary courtesy that you meet even the most frustrating obstacles with grace?

I learned a truly tough lesson this week. You see, I am sincerely a perfectionist at heart.  I know perfectly well that I have a need to be professional and excellent at everything I do and I dislike (intensely) making any excuses for any result that is less than exceptional. Mostly, I’ve figured that’s a good thing overall.

Two weeks ago, I did a webinar that was very well received called the Seven Deadly Sins in Marketing Your Business.  By the way, you can watch it – I’ve been getting calls and emails for two weeks from people who tweaked some important things and increased the number of clients they have already! I did that webinar and it came off well!

To be fair, I was very well prepared, practiced and ready – in every way except one!  I was guilty of one of my very own deadly sins (#7) – and I paid the price.

My team went to work right away to resolve it.  Yet, Thanksgiving showed up in the middle of it, so the offices they needed information and codes from were closed.  And Hurricane Haiyan wiped out infrastructure in my Team’s country – so while they were fine – all the services that keep them connected were interrupted along the chain.  It was a mess.  But you see, my team kept at it, AND they continually handled their issues with courtesy and respect.

My perfectionism met their courtesy over and over again – and in the end, perfectionism bowed to respect.

What is at the root of respect?  Probably it’s love.  I love that team of mine for their spirit, their intention and their hearts.  In the end, they have – we have – produced results.