Most blogs are about voting today and hopefully you have done your civic duty.

I thought I'd change up the conversation and talk about toilets. Not to imply that all the political back-stabbing, muck-rakers should be flushed....unless of course you agree..

No, I'm here to talk about real toilets.

For those of you with a destination business, have you looked at your bathroom with a clean eye? Even if your bathroom is just for your employees - it is still an area requiring regular attention. The Church of the Customer blog spotlights the most overlooked area of stores as they go around Chicago taking pictures of public restrooms.

As a Regional Manager for Pearle Vision in the 1990s the bathroom was where I'd spent my first 15 minutes of every visit. I imagine my managers thought I had a personal problem, but really, a quick visit to the loo would tell me volumes about the store manager's attention to detail. Was it used as a storage closet? Was it clean and well-stocked? Was there a duty roster for maintaining the restroom?

On my first visit to NYC I traveled with my parents. My Mom and I would frequently need to powder our noses. Frankly, it was more for a much needed opportunity to get off my feet as for anything else. Anyway, we began to compile a listing of the bathrooms that made the biggest impression. We even contemplated writing a travel book "The Bathrooms of NYC."

I'll never forget a one-holer bathroom in a little restaurant that was clean, smelled good, well stocked and even had a fresh flower in a vase on the edge of the sink.

That little extra touch told me that the manager understood the importance of the details. It isn't just enough that your entry way is free from clutter, that your store is stocked, clean, well-lit and attended by a friendly, knowledgeable staff - you have to follow through in the bathroom.

So go look at your place of rest: what message does it send to your customers? Even if it is for employees only - do you send the message that you care for their comfort?