LISTENING FOR SUCCESS

"The key to success is to get out into the store and listen
to what the associates have to say. It's terribly important
for everyone to get involved. Our best ideas come from
clerks and stockboys." -- Sam Walton

I love this wonderful quote from a man who was, for a while,
the richest man on earth. He built an empire by listening to
his employees, his customers, and only rarely, to
consultants and "experts". There is tremendous wisdom in
letting your customers tell you how to succeed!
Routinely, business owners and professionals turn to
consultants to increase their sales, their margins and their
profits. As a coach, I know the tremendous value in hiring
the right expert at the right time! But there may be even
greater value in listening to our customers.
When they hire us, or buy from us, they are saying that in
their wisdom, we provide the best value available in the
market place. That is a wonderful compliment! It is not,
however, one that is likely to last. And, when our potential
customers go to a competitor, they are telling us something
equally vital.
Listen to your customers! Encourage your best, most reliable
customers to tell you why they love your service, your
products or your company. And, if you can, try even harder
to learn from those who walk away. They have their reasons,
and ignoring them is a recipe for failure.
Technology and market analysis are great tools. But in the
end, your most valuable research information comes from your
customers, from the potential customers you lost to a
competitor, and from the line staff who do the daily work of
running your business. Listen, learn and profit!