I am… The ‘Three Guy’. The first response to that from the younger set is… ‘Whatever!’ This word is now used with increasing regularity, to let the user cop out of almost everything. I have been ‘The Three Guy’ for a long time. Now, I will share my ‘condition’ with you.
You read it first, right here in Business to Business. So, who is the ‘Three Guy’? As ‘the original’, it is my dedication to ‘dynamic simplicity’ in all endeavours. Sadly, we don’t use the term ‘original’ in New Zealand much any more. We use… ‘imitate’!
It involves ‘common sense’ (shock, horror!). I am putting this amazing ‘law of success’ into a book. For starters I need an enterprising publisher. I tried to find one here. Their spokesman told me I couldn’t come in to talk about it. I could submit my written proposal for their boring committee process. What?
What happened to the ‘elation of innovation’? Looks like we’ll just have to go overseas instead! Bummer! That brings me to this group we all belong to often… called ‘Them’. ‘Them’ is that happy mob with much potential for spending at… your place. Good grief! They are called, ‘customers’. How quaint.
I stopped using this silly term long ago, because… ‘customer service’ is an oxymoron. Part of this term also describes the behaviour of many people in business! You’d never guess there was a so-called ‘recession’ going on, by the collective apathy around the place.
‘First response’ in many places I have visited, hasn’t changed one iota since folks left their leaky caves to live in leaky homes. The proper term is ‘thumbprint partnership’. You’ll find that in my course, ‘The 3 Percenter Seminar’. Last issue I challenged readers to submit three tips for ‘creating a hot team’.
The winner would receive two complimentary tickets to ‘The 3 Percenter Seminar’. Not a single entry, folks! That only confirms that Auckland is still the world’s only city that takes two months off per year and then scrambles every February to catch up. No change here, team!
So my Top 10 Tips for looking after ‘Them’ (wot carries wallets and purses, but may not open them anywhere near your place!):
1. At least ‘pretend’ you are pleased to see us.
2. ‘Going the extra mile’ is your minimum performance.
3. Try something more intelligent than the perpetual SALE!
4. Think!
5. Practise talking value over cost for once.
6. Make ‘listening’ a compulsory skill.
7. Be helpful even if you can’t profit immediately from it.
8. Add in something extra.
9. Know your ‘partner categories’ and focus on the best one – loyalty.
10. ‘Old-fashioned’ is back (like ‘manners’ f’rinstance!).
Your challenge for this issue, is to send to me at duitdammit@xtra.co.nz your three best profit-creating behaviours for biz partners (also known as ‘customers’… Bleccch!). The best wins two places on The 3 Percenter Seminar, valued at $575. Is anyone back yet…? Hello!
I recommend the book ‘Winning’ by Jack Welch, with Suzy Welch. It’s a good book for these times from a man who used ‘old-fashioned’ ideals, values and practices while CEO at General Electric.
After The Bust… cometh The Boom. Be first out of the blocks. Excite us to join your journey. Your secret weapon is ‘innovation’. Innovation is the combo of doing tomorrow differently, doing yesterday better and doing today with focused enthusiasm.
‘Different’ requires a Maverick. Do you have the guts to select one? Despite the confusion, make sure you’re always DOING something!
