Margaret Hall

For so many years, I was a people pleaser in a difficult marriage where nothing I did was good enough. I kept changing myself thinking that would make my partner happy, but I realized it wasn't good for me or my children who were watching me be demeaned and belittled. I wasn't living to my full potential or being who I really was. When I saw the effects on my children, I knew we had to get out. After leaving, I started doing things that brought me joy and trying things I had never been allowed to try before. I didn't want my kids to live limited by fear or someone else's negativity. I wanted them to know that if they had a dream, they should pursue it, even if it wasn't my dream. So I decided that's what I was going to do. I made a bucket list of things I wanted to try, and I tell people to make a list of things they dream of and then choose something and make a plan to achieve it. If you never try, the answer will always be no. You're never going to succeed at something if you don't give it a shot. I've realized that instead of feeling guilty about privilege, you should embrace it and use it to create an opportunity or be a voice for someone else.

Treat your customers well. You always hear that the customer's always right, and they're not, but I try to put myself in their position while still very softly trying to make them understand their position might not be quite what they think it is. I can always say, you know what, I've been where you are, or let's see how we can resolve this where both of us may have to compromise a little bit. I want to help you, but if you understand businesses, we have to work this out together. I feel like I am a good negotiator and very empathetic because I've sat on the opposite side of the table in a lot of different environments. I've worked in government, in child services, but I've also been the receiver of those types of services as a divorced parent raising kids. I've worked retail as well, so I can very easily see both sides. My daughter also taught me something important: sometimes when people come to you, it's not advice that they need, they just need you to listen. I used to give unsolicited advice, but she told me as an adult, 'Mom, sometimes I don't need your advice, I just need you to listen. I just need to get this off my chest.' That was really big for me to learn.

I would encourage young women entering this industry to always treat people with kindness, professionalism, and respect because great customer service builds lasting relationships and a strong reputation. Stay authentic, be creative, and genuinely care about your clients, because making people feel valued is what truly sets you apart.

I want people to be treated fairly, respectfully, and kindly. The customer's not always right, but you can tell them that and still be kind. You can uphold your policy and guidelines and still be kind and fair about it. Even when you may not be able to give someone exactly what they want, there are ways you can work with that person to find a resolution. I try to meet them where they are and make sure they understand that I do understand where they're coming from. If I've had a similar experience, I try to share that without taking value away from their experience or what they're trying to resolve. Kindness and respect goes a long way. When someone comes to me and they are good and decent and kind people, they deserve to have that back. If I walk into a business and they treat me disrespectfully or rudely because of how I look or what my beliefs are, I'm just not going to patronize that business. But I'm not going to be rude or ugly or blast them on social media. Someone who needs a service and comes to me, if they are good and decent and kind people, they deserve to have that back. Everybody doesn't have to agree with you, and everybody doesn't have to agree with me, but I am still going to treat those people with kindness and respect the same as I would expect to receive from any other person.