Skills You Expect Everyone Else To Have

Anyone who has ever worked in a customer service industry has heard this expression, probably during orientation/training and many times thereafter, as a way of reminding them to cater to the desires of the paying clientele. But is it a good principle for businesses to follow? Is it a loving principle for businesses to follow? Is it ethical to treat other people as if they are always right in order to get their money and referrals? Is it lying to act as if the customer is right when he isn’t? Is it demeaning to your employees to ask them to put money ahead of truth? Should bullies be rewarded for their behavior?

Post-show thoughts: My list of skills, not all of which I expect everyone to know, but everything I thought of in prepping the show.

Physical abilities: Somersault, Handstand/Headstand, Burp on command, Roll your tongue, Flip a coin, Juggle, Shoot a rubber band, Click tongue, pop lips, Chew gum, blow bubbles, Snap fingers, Wink, Whistle, Cross eyes, Wiggle ears, Raise one eyebrow, Tie a tie, Cracking knucles, Gleeking,
Music: Keep time, Keep a tune, Read sheet music, Anticipate music
Children: Tie shoes, Cast a fishing line, Read a clock, Fly a kite, Skip, Ride bicycle, Jump rope, Swim, Float in water, Rhyme
Miscellaneous: Do accents, adapt to accents (like whenever a person has lived here for a long time and still sounds like he’s from somewhere else),
Clean, load, and shoot a gun.
Technology: Set and program a VCR, Set up a stereo system
Parenting: Change a diaper, Prepare a bottle, Dress a child, Entertain kids, Hold a baby
Female: Braid hair, Put on makeup
Knowledge: Reading and writing, Print/cursive, Spelling, Typing, Math (Give change, Do math in head, Figure out discounts in stores, Balance checkbook, Calculate interest, Calculate tips), Do logic, Time Zones
Games/Sports: Play catch, Throw a football, Chess, General rules of cards, Poker, Kick a ball, Play racquet sports, Play pool, Play catch with a baseball, Frisbee
Household: Make coffee, Laundry, Cook
Office: Fix the copier when it jams, or even load paper in it.
Hygiene: Brush teeth, Floss, Shave
Social skills: Sarcasm, Humor, Quote movies, Discern moods, Avoid profanity
Driving: Put gas in car, Check fluids, Air up tires, Change oil, Wax car, Drive a stick
Outdoors: Read a compass, Read a map, Start a fire