Reader question:

In the following passage, what does “extra mile” mean?

Sean is a great guy, excellent Moderator that goes that extra mile to assist our users with whatever issues they are facing. He has mediated several very difficult disputes with a positive outcome.

My comments:

It means Sean does more than the minimum that’s required of him. In other words, he does something extra for customers.

For instance, if you ask Sean to fix something for you, he doesn’t just say: “I don’t know,” or “It’s not my responsibility,” or “Go to Jim”, or “ask Jill for Jim’s phone number” or similar such.

Instead, Sean will fix it for you or at least take you to Jim directly without having you, say, travel another floor or so in search of Jill, who might have taken the day off after all.

Anyways, “extra mile” stands for “an extra effort” and it often is what makes the difference. Many a person has remarked that the secret to their success is nothing more than “going the extra mile”, doing a little more than would other people.

In travel, you can imagine what it means to go the extra mile. Climbing a mountain, for instance, if you bother to go the extra mile while others choose to stop and take a rest, you’re guaranteed a special scene, one which nobody else would be able to see. It’s often a better view, too, natural, pristine and uncontaminated – precisely because most people are too tired or too unadventurous to travel this far.

By extension and by analogy, by “going the extra mile” at work and in life in general, and assuming the risk along the way, we often find a whole brave new world.

Here are media examples:

1. You’ve heard people say to go the extra mile. It can do great things for you. Your customers will respect you more. Your boss might notice your efforts and promote you. You get the good feeling knowing you did a 110%. Among other things.

You can also receive a phone call, e-mail or letter from a past customer during the holidays!

- Why You Should Go the Extra Mile..., Rampupyourprofits.com, June 9, 2009.

2. Thank you letters are becoming more of a necessity in today’s ever competitive world. These days, you need to find a way to set yourself apart from the rest of the pack. It can be difficult to do so for a very sought after job.

One way to give yourself an edge is to simply do the courteous and thoughtful act of mailing a thank you letter after your resume has been looked or even received. Employers want people who are not afraid to take risks and go the extra mile. Sure, sending a thank you letter could be a complete waste of time, effort and energy.

Then again it could be that one small thing that sets you apart from the other candidates that could be just as qualified, if not more than you.

Resume thank you letters were almost a lost tradition from the days of yester year when courtesy and kindness were a norm. It wasn’t until the hustle and bustle of modern life made everyone so busy and turned everyone into a number that thank you letters became popular again.

- Make the extra mile with Resume Thank You Letters, Hotfrog.in, June 11, 2009.