“The only reason to be in business,” says Brian Tracy, “is to create and keep customers.” If you’re considering a tattoo, that would be a good tattoo.
No matter what business you’re in, there are things you must do to find customers, and other things you must do to have them stick around. You must add personal value. For starters:
Be likable. No one likes doing business with a jerk. Be friendly, courteous, kind, patient, humorous, all those things. Be interested. I am changing my cell phone service as soon as my contract is up because the people in the store are rude and indifferent.
Be capable. No one wants to do business with a dummy. Product knowledge is a given. But where you really must be your best is in customer service, promptly identifying and gladly taking care of individual customer needs.
Be dependable. No one will do business more than once with a liar. Your personal integrity is more compelling than anything for retaining customers. Always under promise and over deliver. Isn’t that right?
If your personal values differ from your business values, neither your customers nor you will last very long.
