Ryan Millman
In the famed 1992 business movie Glengarry Glen Ross, Alec Baldwin states the ABC’s to be “Always Be Closing”. I take issue with that. I believe the ABC’s of business are “Always Be Customers”.
Nothing can drive a business’ success more than to always put yourself in the shoes of your customers or potential customers. In fact this principal is so important you should spend an ample portion of every day not only thinking about your customers but talking to them and listening.
Do you know the one thing I love to hear more than customer raves? Customer complaints! I love customer complaints. Well, of course the goal is to satisfy each and every customer and never get a single complaint, but I believe there is ALWAYS room for improvement with any business.
Feedback and listening is what has driven Nations Photo Lab to become a leader in the world of photofinishing and it can drive your business as well. Our company motto can be found on every employee’s desk “Every Customer, Every Order, Every Day!”
So how does listening to your customers turn into running a successful business? Collectively your customer’s ideas and suggestions are better than your own. They will tell you about what new products and enhancements they are looking for. They will tell you why they have decided to be a customer or what you can do to gain their business. More importantly they will appreciate your willingness to listen and evolve with them and they are 10 times more likely to refer you to their friends.
Success is defined by how your customers define you. So no matter how large or small your company is or will become, never forget the ABC’s.