Jeffrey Gitomer, the author of "The Little Red Book of Selling" and a columnist with a down-to-earth approach on sales, had a great article on the men’s room at the Charlotte, NC airport.  In a column last fall, he reports having a completely different experience in the men’s room from previous visits–friendly service, clean surroundings, and a full supply of antibacterial soap. How did this come about? 

An outside company was hired to staff and clean the bathrooms with an attendant who works for tips (and I’m assuming, a small wage).  Gittomer keenly observes:

"I asked the smiling bathroom attendant, "How’s business?" He smiled at me and said, "Great!" Now mind you, this is a guy who’s cleaning toilets and passing out paper towels.  That’s his job.  But because he was doing a great job, people were acknowledging his excellence and service by tipping him."

Gittomer goes on to say that "as soon as someone could earn based on their work ethic and their excellence, the bathroom went from dirty to spotless." 

Which makes me wonder what other annoyances and chronic societal problems could be addressed through free enterprise…..