How to Blow Up Your Business
Not only does everything you do send a message – that message is received, and usually remembered – often for a long, long time.
Recently, my wife and I made a large purchase. I happened to show up directly after working out, so I was in gym attire.
Our experience involved two saleswomen, one who was a gem, and one who was rude and quite nasty. The nasty saleswoman was condescending, treated us as if we were beneath her, and indicated through her behavior that she could care less if we ever did business with her, or told anyone about our experience with her.
One problem – I know her boss. I also know a number of her regular clients.
I have not, and will not say anything to her boss or her clients, and I will not use her name publicly, name her employer, etc. I am no threat to her or her business.
The next person she treats like that might be.
The one thing that delivers an overpowering message to others – how you treat people.
Not just clients, spouses, employees, employers – everybody. If you think that no one takes notice, guess again. I have been told of job interviews blown because of the way a candidate treated the wait staff. I was recently told of a service provider who was rude to the security guard of an office complex visiting a prospect – guess who didn’t get the business? Elected officials publicly humiliated because of rude treatment of wait staff and poor tipping habits.
You never know who the person next to you on the subway is. Or who your waiter knows. Or the gentlemen pumping your gas (for NJ residents!). Or the sales clerk.
The list is endless, but the lesson is the same – every action sends a message, and you do not always have the benefit of knowing who the audience is.
An old favorite:
“Be careful of whose toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow.”
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So true! Some people think that you can send a signal of being “alpha” or the “dominant” by acting like a spoiled king to administrative assistants. Bad move. AAs control the schedules of the people with whom you need to meet and often “have the boss’ ear”.
I logged my last day of shopping at a local upscale jewelry store when my spouse and I made a hurried stop en route to buy a gift for my mother for Mother’s Day. The sales clerk walked across the near-empty store (remember the bad economy thing that’s been going on for the past year?) and paused to inspect our traveling attire of jeans and sandals. After several minutes of us looking through the cases to find just the right piece for my dear old mum, the clerk haughtily suggested, “There’s an outlet mall about 3 miles up the road. Perhaps you can find what you’re looking for at one of the kiosks there.” It took me so by surprise all I could do was laugh at the transparency of the jab. My spouse was less amused and offered to return our previous purchases in a way which could be physically painful for those involved. We never got a chance to creatively return the merchandise however: The store hung their “Going Out Of Business” sign shortly thereafter and is now closed. I often wonder if the sales clerk was able to get a job at one of those jewelry kiosks in that outlet mall up the road…
Matt, it’s a small world. As I tell my son, your actions determine your reputation.
Thanks Chris – you are absolutely right – sage advice!
Absolutely correct, Matt!
Treat EVERYONE as if they are the person who can either write the check or say, ‘No’.
Always take the high road and treat everyone with respect, because you never know who that person is, or who the know.
And Matt, what was that company’s name?