A coworker recently shared a story about his ‘Uncle Hans.’ As a long-time chauffeur for notable Dutch personalities, Uncle Hans was accustomed to immaculate cars, which likely fueled his fixation. During the 1980s, he possessed a high-end Ford Taunus. Sharing it was never considered - no one else could get behind the wheel. He set even stricter boundaries: besides himself, only his wife was permitted inside; other guests might risk dirtying the interior. After family gatherings or celebrations, rather than offering a lift, he would politely send friends and relatives to catch the bus.
His prized car stayed in a pristine garage attached to the house but was rolled out daily, whether driven or not - except during freezing weather, when it remained indoors. The garage resembled a surgical suite, containing solely car-related items such as tools, spare parts, fluids, engine oil, and especially an abundance of cleaning products.
Uncle Hans meticulously hand-washed his car three times a week - on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Automatic car washes were strictly avoided. He cleaned every detail: dashboard wiped down, mats beaten, thorough vacuuming, and even the tires got special treatment. Using a toothbrush, he scrubbed the tread grooves to keep dirt and stones at bay.
This routine continued for years, even after health concerns prevented him from driving. Like a sacred animal let out to pasture, the car was still brought out of the garage daily to be cared for with unwavering dedication.
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Milo Alink | Blogger Milo is a Customer Journey Expert and blogs about topics encountered in their work.
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