Would You Like Some Service with That?

“If you want to influence others, you must adopt a mindset of service, but never subservience.” - Peter Fuda (Be In Service, Not Subservience)

Last year I celebrated a milestone birthday. One of those birthdays that makes you pause and take stock. But the real gift didn’t land until February this year. An unforgettable ski trip to Japan. How lucky am I – what an amazing birthday present!

Not since my days working a ski season in Park City, Utah some thirty-eight years ago had I strapped on skis. So, you can only imagine the thrill (and terror!) of hitting the ski slopes after all those years. But that’s a story for another day…

What struck me most on this trip wasn’t just the snow (which was amazing), or the food (simply delicious) – it was the Japanese people and their culture of service.

If you have been to Japan, you would know that service is more than a transaction - it’s an art form. It’s delivered with humility, pride and presence. No one’s pretending. No one’s posturing.

It’s genuine, human and deeply ingrained. I loved it!

Arriving back in Australia I was left wondering: why can’t we have that here?

Why isn’t it normal to offer exceptional service? Without the irony, without the awkwardness, and without feeling like it's somehow beneath us.

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: In Australia, we have an anti-authority ethos. We often conflate service with being servile. Somewhere along the line I believe, the idea of serving others got tangled up… with being subservient.

Perhaps we are just Too Scared To Care?

And (let’s be honest), in a culture that prizes independence and giving authority the finger, “serving” might feel like selling out.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Real service is not about submission… it’s about strength. It’s about choosing to care - bravely, openly and consistently. It’s not about being told what to do. It’s about owning your role in the bigger picture.

Whether you’re behind a bar, behind a desk, leading a team, serving your boss or leading a large organisation, being of service is one of the most egalitarian, enriching and human things that we can do.

It’s not for the faint-hearted though.

It takes self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the guts to put someone else’s experience above your own ego. As Brené Brown puts it,

“We can’t practice compassion with other people if we can’t treat ourselves kindly.”

Service begins with self-respect. So, here’s the choice:

• You can drift with the cynical crowd - the ones who roll their eyes and treat customers like interruptions. Or, you can walk a different path.
• You can be part of a tribe that sees service as a higher calling. One that believes that creating exceptional human experiences is not just a job - but a legacy.

And if you're still not sure, I’ll leave you with another Peter Fuda’s quote:

“Service is a noble pursuit, perhaps the most noble. To be in service of others is to live your purpose and influence them towards theirs. Service is strength and power. You act like a partner, even if the person you’re serving is your boss or a customer.”

Let’s make that our cultural norm.

Wishing you a wonderful week of delivering exceptional service.

Richard Dore
Co-CEO - Director of Partnerships
Proteus Leadership