10,000 lives.

That number was in my head early Sunday morning 5 years ago.

I was assigned to do the voice-over announcements in the Feast Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) 8:00 AM session. Last night, I followed my usual routine: went to bed early, woke up at 4:00 AM, downloaded the script, wrote it, and got ready to go to the PICC to serve. 

[Note: Yes, I handwrite the script because we don’t have a printer in the house. Later on, I realized it was good to write the script because it is more retained in the brain. Thus, the power of writing your dreams or plans. But that is another story for another day.]

I woke up at 4:00 AM and checked our Voice-Over Team Messenger chat via mobile phone. No script yet.

Maybe our team head, our scriptwriter, is still in an event gig. She might be in the finishing touches for the script. I reset the alarm to 4:20 AM.

Still no script at 4:20 AM, so I reset the clock again to wake me up at 5:00 AM.

Still no script. So I prepared my way to more waiting.

At 6:25 AM, I opened my laptop and checked the Voice-Over Team Messenger chat.

No script. No notice. Nothing.

I started to feel a bit of panic. Our team head doesn't act like this.

I checked the email. To my horror, no written and submitted script.

The moment was as if it mirrored the terror-stricken expression of a Face Screaming in Fear emoji.

And then the number 10,000 came into my mind.

The number represents the approximate amount of people participating in the morning sessions of the Feast PICC. This includes those who are physically present at the venue as well as those watching through a live stream. They attend the Holy Mass, participate in worship, and listen to the talk. In between the Holy Mass and the worship is the announcement of event schedules.

The announcement of events' schedules is where my team's job as servants come in.

But what do we announce if my team and I don't have a script at hand?

At that moment, I threw everything - even my schedule - in the wind.

I started to focus on writing scripts per session with only one thing in mind: 10,000 people.

I was able to write and submit the scripts in less than 10 minutes. I should hear you clap your hands. Completing a script for 10 minutes is a feat for someone who experiences writer's block.

After writing the script, I sent it to the other assigned voice-over servants in other sessions. Then I traveled to the venue to serve. I still made it on time.

Later that day, our team leader, who wasn't feeling well the night before, apologized for not delivering the scripts on time during a busy Messenger chat. But she thanked the team for stepping up.

We have systems in place. It was our first experience of this incident. Moreover, preventive actions are going to take effect to make sure this won't happen again.

Yet here's a marketing lesson I learned: If I care about my customers, I can focus on how I can serve them better.

Our work as voice-over servants has simple call-to-actions:

Sign up.

Join.

Attend.

But there is more than what meets the eye.

The announcement of events on The Feast tries to achieve these for the 10,000 people:

Deepen faith.

Belong in a community.

Rekindle relationships.

Create new bonds.

The most basic we could hope for them to achieve: gain clarity.

Why do I know this? I have been there.

I was a Feast attendee before becoming a servant.

I wanted to belong in a community.

I was looking for new friends.

I wanted to deepen my faith.

I can use my own pain to help others reach their goals.

It doesn’t matter if your customers are 10, 100, or 10,000. 

It is easier to bring people to where you want them to go if you know where to meet them.

So, how do you care for your customers? 

The Feast is a weekly gathering of The Light of Jesus Family. There could be a Feast near you. Click here to find out more.