Customers are the name of the game and listening to customers is the best way to get to know what they are thinking. 200,000 people walk into our Wells Fargo History museum in the Old Town San Diego California State Park every year: I am never bored when I ask a visitor where they are from.

We’ve had a few famous visitors: when Bill Clinton came to visit the Old Town Mexican Café, Walter Cronkite stepped in and I happened to be working the floor. He stayed for several minutes, looking and smiling at the exhibits. I didn’t wish to bother him, so while we did exchange a knowing glance I didn’t think to ask him any questions. I’d say now that was a mistake!

I asked a fellow a couple days ago where he was from and while he said "Tempe, Arizona " his accent said " New Jersey." His wife chimed in that he had rebuilt an old wagon and he went on to say that he liked to restore old furniture to its original finish. His brother pointed out that he had a safe much like the 1885 Herring, Hall, Marvin & Co. safe we have in the museum. So I opened it for them.

"I got one of these in our basement, only it’s smaller and it’s got some shelves in it," he told me. (Old safes tend not to move around much—wonder what the story is there....)

Opening doors is not a bad way to look at what we do. The great part of the job is that our customers open a lot of doors for us as well if we take the time to listen to their stories as well.