Skip to content
All writing

December 13, 2010

A Personal McDonald's Experience...Absurd?

I know this may seem un-American but I seldom eat at McDonald's and almost never do so by dining-in. Recently, I was very early for a morning meeting and decided to grab a cup of coffee at a nearby McDonald's . Past encounters predicted that I would…

I know this may seem un-American but I seldom eat at McDonald's and almost never do so by dining-in. Recently, I was very early for a morning meeting and decided to grab a cup of coffee at a nearby McDonald's. Past encounters predicted that I would get served quickly and that the product would be of a quality that was consistent with price. I also expected to sit in a clean dining area and that's about where my expectations ended. To my pleasant surprise, power outlets were readily available so I fired-up my computer and got to work on my upcoming Zappos Experience book. I was increasingly amazed when a pleasant and cheerful staff member circled the restaurant with a coffee pot and "warmed-up" my drink. This McDonald's was bustling with groups of "regulars," as evidenced by conversations they were having with Susan, the manager who made regular sweeps through the restaurant. Before I left, I made a point of talking to Susan about my unexpected "McDonalds Experience." She simply said, "I'm glad this felt like a welcoming place. Come back and visit me soon." Susan didn't say, "I hope you will visit McDonald's again soon." Instead, she made it personal.... While I probably wont become a regular McDonald's customer, I will visit Susan's restaurant the next time I am in the area.... What are you doing to exceed customer expectations and make their experience personal?

Get Me a Person by Joseph Michelli — book cover
New book

Get Me a Person

Winning Human Connection and Loyalty in the Age of AI. On sale December 8 — signed, personalized copies are available now.

Pre-order the book
Joseph Michelli portrait
Written by

Joseph Michelli

Joseph Michelli, Ph.D., is a Certified Speaking Professional and #1 New York Times bestselling author whose books are drawn from his work inside Starbucks, The Ritz-Carlton, Mercedes-Benz, Airbnb, and Zappos. His new book, Get Me a Person, releases December 8. Signed, personalized copies available now. He helps leadership teams design human-centered, technology-aided experiences that build loyalty and referrals. Start a conversation about your team.

More about Joseph
Newsletter

Get the next piece in your inbox.

New writing every week or two. No filler. Unsubscribe anytime.