On Good Friday I pulled up to a print shop to pick up an order for some copies that I had e-mailed. The shop was dark. On the door was a sign “We will be closed Good Friday.”
I was not surprised. In fact, I was pleased. “Good for them!” I said out loud.
I remembered a couple years ago when the owner had grappled with the idea of closing for Good Friday. The shop never did much business that day, and taking the day off seemed like a wonderful opportunity for the two guys who worked there.
“Do it,” I had encouraged. “Your customers who show up will wait until Monday.”
True to my word, I did go back Monday to pick up the copies. “I was here Friday and read your sign,” I offered. “I had forgotten you close on Good Friday. I’m glad that you did.”
“Well, remember you said you thought it was a good idea,” he replied.
“I do,” I agreed.
“It’s been a nice break for us,” he continued. “No customers have complained, either.”
As I mulled over our conversation, I thought about how we businesspeople think we should take many actions where customers are concerned that perhaps are not necessary.
We should be open weekends and holidays.
We should be give the customer a deal.
We should do business with every customer that contacts us.
These “we shoulds” constrict us, and likely we take actions that we think we need to do to get more business. We think the customers want these “we shoulds.” In reality, the customers don’t care. They are only following our lead, doing what we are offering them.
Where do the “we shoulds” originate? They come from our seeing what other businesspeople have done and doing the same. We follow the rest of those in our industry. Instead of thinking for ourselves and evaluating what is good for our businesses, we do what we think we should.
Why do we blindly follow what others are doing? We fear losing customers and revenue if we do something different. Not conforming makes us uneasy. Changing takes a great deal of courage.
What are the effects of “we should“? Sadly many are negative. Burn-out. Frustration. Loss of good employees. Waste of time. Unseen stress and loss for the organization.
Stop for a moment and ask yourself, What “we shoulds” am I letting happen in my business? If we changed how we did those “we shoulds“, what would happen? Would we lose customers? Would my employees and I have less stress and more personal time?
Write down your answers and find the courage to change.
This week's marketing trivia challenge is What “we shoulds“ have you changed? E-mail me your answer.
I was not surprised. In fact, I was pleased. “Good for them!” I said out loud.
I remembered a couple years ago when the owner had grappled with the idea of closing for Good Friday. The shop never did much business that day, and taking the day off seemed like a wonderful opportunity for the two guys who worked there.
“Do it,” I had encouraged. “Your customers who show up will wait until Monday.”
True to my word, I did go back Monday to pick up the copies. “I was here Friday and read your sign,” I offered. “I had forgotten you close on Good Friday. I’m glad that you did.”
“Well, remember you said you thought it was a good idea,” he replied.
“I do,” I agreed.
“It’s been a nice break for us,” he continued. “No customers have complained, either.”
As I mulled over our conversation, I thought about how we businesspeople think we should take many actions where customers are concerned that perhaps are not necessary.
We should be open weekends and holidays.
We should be give the customer a deal.
We should do business with every customer that contacts us.
These “we shoulds” constrict us, and likely we take actions that we think we need to do to get more business. We think the customers want these “we shoulds.” In reality, the customers don’t care. They are only following our lead, doing what we are offering them.
Where do the “we shoulds” originate? They come from our seeing what other businesspeople have done and doing the same. We follow the rest of those in our industry. Instead of thinking for ourselves and evaluating what is good for our businesses, we do what we think we should.
Why do we blindly follow what others are doing? We fear losing customers and revenue if we do something different. Not conforming makes us uneasy. Changing takes a great deal of courage.
What are the effects of “we should“? Sadly many are negative. Burn-out. Frustration. Loss of good employees. Waste of time. Unseen stress and loss for the organization.
Stop for a moment and ask yourself, What “we shoulds” am I letting happen in my business? If we changed how we did those “we shoulds“, what would happen? Would we lose customers? Would my employees and I have less stress and more personal time?
Write down your answers and find the courage to change.
This week's marketing trivia challenge is What “we shoulds“ have you changed? E-mail me your answer.
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