We live in a very contradictory time. Everything is extreme to one side or the other.
For example, we have become politically correct to a fault. The mere mention of your opinion on ANYTHING, can get you banned, fired, or ostracized (my dictionary word of the day) from your social media platform of choice.
Yet, I can’t turn my TV on any regular network show in front of the kids. Why? Because they are filled with erectile dysfunction commercials, swearing, and gore. And that’s in the morning.
Also, everybody wants to be unique.
To become unique, everybody looks to see what other people are doing to be different, and then they copy that different person. That’s why you have so many hip tweeters out there that call themselves “Social Media Maven, hiker/swimmer/runner and lover of insert-bad-for-you-food-here.”
So in the spirit of being contradictory, I would like to offer my two-cents worth when it comes to businesses:
- It is vital to small business owners to give great customer service.
- It is vital to small businesses to fire customers. Bad ones. These are the customers that are simply the “squeaky wheel”, that get greased, only to shut it up. These customers define the 80/20 rule. That is they bring you 80% of the headaches and only 20% of the revenue. If you are afraid to fire them, simply raise the price of your services for them and most will leave. The one’s that stay…….well at least you will be paid for the extra babysitting.
- Be passionate about what you do. Eat it, sleep it, and breathe it.
- You don’t have to follow your passion. That is, if you are passionate about children, you may not necessarily be cut out to own a daycare. I am passionate about football, but would probably make a terrible GM. You just need to be passionate about the business you have and passionate about doing the right things, in the right way. If you do that, the money will follow.
- Treat employees the way you treat your customers (assuming you treat your customers well.) The number one reason good employees leave their job, is their relationship with their boss. Allow them to provide input, give them regular feedback, and a little professional development.
- Dismiss C level employees. C level employees are the employees that are there merely for a paycheck. They are the “that’s not in my job description” employees. They are the negative people who are complaining about the weather, traffic, and just can’t be happy.