There is a restaurant in Spirit Lake called Lagniappe. The word means “a little something extra,” and is derived from French-Creole language of Louisiana.  The idea behind it is simple: give people what they paid for, then give them just a little bit more. Ever since I met Kathy who runs the restaurant I have liked that concept because it applies to far more than restaurants.

In many ways, it is a philosophy for how we can choose to live and work.

Sweet Coloradough, a donut shop in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is another example. Buy a dozen donuts and they offer you a free shot of tequila. Most people do not take them up on it, but they certainly remember the offer. They also have a habit of slipping an extra donut or two into your box - you may have paid for twelve but you walk out with fourteen, and the 2 extra ones happen to be the one that you commented on you liked the best.

While on vacation recently a tour guide created the same feeling by giving everyone a small gift at the end of the tour. The gift cost very little, yet it changed the experience because it communicated generosity, thoughtfulness, and appreciation.

We have all experienced the opposite as well. We pay for something and somehow receive less than expected. Not long ago I was on a flight into Chicago where we arrived early, only to taxi around the airport for nearly an hour because of construction and congestion. By the time we finally reached the gate, we nearly missed our connection. Technically, the airline had delivered us to Chicago, but the experience certainly did not feel like the value we expected.

That contrast is what makes lagniappe so powerful. Most of us know what it feels like to receive less than promised, exactly what was promised, or slightly more than promised. The difference between the second and third may be small in effort or cost, but enormous in how the experience is remembered.

The idea has obvious implications for business. What if we viewed our work as more than a job and instead treated it as a profession? What if we saw a customer interaction as more than a transaction and instead thought of it as an experience? The extra could be remembering a name, following up after the sale, solving a problem that technically was not ours to solve, staying a few minutes longer, writing a handwritten thank-you, or simply showing someone that they mattered.

The same idea may be even more meaningful in our personal lives. What does lagniappe look like with our spouse, children, friends, neighbors, or community? Maybe it is taking an extra few minutes to listen. Maybe it is making the phone call you have been putting off, helping someone before they ask, or turning an ordinary evening into something memorable. The cost is often minimal, but the impact can be significant.

Much of life is built around expectations. We have responsibilities to fulfill, commitments to keep, jobs to perform, and people depending on us. Meeting those expectations matters. But perhaps a fulfilling life begins when we stop asking only, “What am I supposed to do?” and start asking, “What could I add?”

Not just a job, but a profession. Not just a transaction, but an experience. Not just another day, but an extraordinary day. Not just the expected, but the expected - and a little bit more.

Where in your life could you add some lagniappe?

Tony Thelen is the founder of The River Coaching and Consulting, LLC, an executive coaching firm based in West Okoboji. He is the author of "Am I Doing This Right?" and "Things We Desire." He works with CEOs, business owners, and executives to remove pain, anxiety, and stress while making room for true personal and professional growth. Contact Tony at [email protected] or learn more at www.therivercoach.org.