Lost and Found

I ordered something from the US which is only shipped to US addresses so I used a freight forwarding service to get it sent to me in Singapore. 

Due to me not realising the freight company had moved, I got the item sent to the old address. Someone unknown to me picked it up so the store couldn’t do anything. 

Time went by and one day I received an email from the store saying they had received an email. Someone had told them that there used to be a freight forwarding company where his current company was and that package was addressed to them. He left his email address and the store asked me to contact him.

So I did and thanked him. And gave him the correct address. I also added:

“If it’s too late, and you’ve sent it somewhere else, no worries. I’m still very grateful for your integrity and kindness. I’m not even your customer, and you have given me customer service I truly appreciate and restores my faith in people!”

He wrote back saying he’ll kindly send on the package. Some time later, the package finally arrived.

I wrote to him again and said the package had arrived and added:

“..thanks again for your extreme kindness to a stranger all the way around the world in Singapore!” 

Here’s part of what he wrote back: 

“It would be a much better world if more people took the time to go out of their way to do things for others…I hope you have a wonderful day in beautiful Singapore! I’ve never been there but I’ve seen TV travelogues and articles featuring the amazing botanical gardens there. What a beautiful place Singapore is!”

What a beautiful, warm message! He was making it a better world by his example.

I hadn’t heard of the company (Richards Packaging) he worked at and found this on their website: “The company has always relied on its founding principles: quality, selection and customer service.” 

Organisations have wonderful words on their websites all the time but how often do we experience it to be true? 

There was also a message from their President saying: 

“Our employees are the ones who have made Richards Packaging the best packaging distributor in North America. Visit us in person and see for yourself.”

I didn’t have to visit in person. Even from Singapore, I could feel the difference this one employee made. 

I wrote this blog-post and sent it to him to ask if he was comfortable for me to publish this. I wasn’t sure…a total stranger from across the world asking him this…To my delight, he replied with this joyful message:

“Dear Vadivu! Wow! This is really awesome! Yes, I’m very comfortable with you publishing it on your blog just the way it is and I feel very honored to be included. Today started out like an ordinary Monday but it no longer is because of how good you’ve made me feel. Thank you so much! I hope you have a wonderful day! 😊😊😊

This little package got lost and helped me find something that was life-giving – kindness from a stranger, customer service to a non-customer, an employee who kept the company’s promise.  

His name is Jeff Gilliam and he is from richardspackaging.com

What did you finally find when you have lost something? 

When have you gone out of the way to do something for a stranger?

How can you be that employee who makes the inspiring words on your organisation’s website come true, regardless of who else does?

If you’re a leader, how likely would it be for an employee from your company to have done all that Jeff did?

Vadivu Govind