Recipe for Success

Success!  America loves success. We like to win.  And it pays!

So, I have an idea.  Why don’t we bring back the old recipe for success that our grandparents and great grandparents relied upon?  What’s the recipe?  I’m glad you asked.

First, make a good, dependable and reliable, quality product.  We have way too much junk.  Americans don’t need more junk: buy today, throw away tomorrow because it broke after its second, maybe third use.  Consumers are tired of wasting time, money, space, effort, and sentiment in buying something that’ll end up in the trash the next day.  So producers, please, make products that will last.  Make it worth the pretty penny we consumers spend on it.  America, let’s demand more quality and less quantity.  We want our shopping trip to be worth the effort.

Secondly, bring back the “Service with a Smile” mentality.  Businesses are there for the benefit of the customer, not the other way around.  Be glad when a customer walks in the door.  Don’t have this, “Oh NO, not another one!” attitude when a customer enters the shop.  Embrace that man, woman, or even child that walks in the door; they’re there because they need or want something, and you are there to help fulfill that need or desire they came in with, looking to satisfy.  So serve!  Give them that special attention when asked for; bring back that personal touch, that relational aspect to the business transaction.  Take no customer for granted.

Thirdly, bring back that old saying, “The Customer is Always Right!”  Sure, I know, there are some pretty ornery, stubborn, and downright unreasonable customers out there.  I know, because I’ve been one!  (I’m ashamed to say.)  Nevertheless, customers need respect. Don’t make a customer feel foolish, like she’s an idiot because you think she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.  Indeed, the customer may not know anything about the product, material, or item in question but she does know what she wants; or at least she believes she knows.  Respect that.  Try to grasp your customer’s point of view; it may just very well make sense, even if it is uninformed or misinformed.  It’s your business to satisfy a need or want, which means possibly taking time to educate the customer a bit and/or perhaps even sending your potential client on to a competitor of yours.  Yes, really!  It’ll be good for your own business in the long run, when you do this.

Fourthly, follow through, be true, keep your word; let your word be as good as any signed contract.  Many customers may have a lot of anxiety about their purchase, especially with big ticket items.  Customers want to be satisfied that they’ve made the right decision and a good one, when purchasing a product.  They don’t want to buy more insurance they want assurance.  Are you behind them?  Will you back them?  Are you and your business trustworthy, reliable, and supportive?  Customers are wary of the “Sorry Charlie, you get what you pay for” response, or the “Take the money and run” approach that many business people seem to have these days, whatever the service or product they seem to be pushing.

Fifthly, customers are fully aware that there is no perfect product out there.  Mistakes will be made.  Okay, so deal with it.  Address the mistakes when they happen.  First own it, and then take immediate and deliberate action to correct the mistakes to make it right.  There’s no need to hide, run, or cover up.  Most customers will allow for a mistake here and there along the way.  When it is handled correctly, customers are reassured and will continue to buy your product knowing that you stand by your work, your product, and your service.  And that’s just good business.

And finally, and most importantly, see your business as more than a money making, profiteering entity.  Ultimately you are in the business of Life.  Your real business is adding value to people’s lives, not only to your customers but to your employees and their families, not to mention your own family.  You bring a service or product that people want or need in order to make their lives more fruitful, meaningful, delightful, or happy.  It’s not just about making money.  So take the greed motive out of the equation.  If you are making enough money from your business to live a comfortable life, consider ways that you might help others less fortune than yourself.  You might begin with your own employees.  Are you serving them well?  Or do you simply see them as cogs in a big money-making machine that you call your business?  The real successful businessperson is one who understands the difference and is keen on bringing benefit to people’s lives as a whole, and not just looking out for one’s personal profit margin.