Caring

This is the ninth in our series on the 10 C’s to Building Momentum.

What one factor will determine the success of your business more than any other?

Many would answer that it is a matter of having the best product or service. Some corporations, believing the latest technology is the answer, will spend millions of dollars on a new software system. These are both important, but there is something much more important, and it doesn’t cost millions of dollars. Whether you have a startup business or own a major corporation, this one factor can make the difference in your success.

It is CARING.

In a recent series of interviews with customers regarding their expectations from corporate suppliers, the CARING component was mentioned more than any other. In a world of technology and speed, the number one issue of importance was not technology, but PEOPLE.

It matters how much a business owner cares about his or her customers and employees. It matters how much sales representatives care about their customers. It matters how much the frontline workers care about serving the people. And it matters how much management cares about the people at all levels of business.

Consider Zappos. You would think their mission statement might have something to do with selling more shoes than any other retailer in the world, right? Wrong. Their mission statement is simply this: “To provide the best customer service possible.” By focusing on delivering the WOW to customers, they have, as a side effect, created massive success. The fact is, if you focus on the sales, your motivation will go flat. But if you focus on the customer, your sales will increase.

CARING is a great motivator. Here are some questions you should ask yourself.

1. Do I CARE about my work?
Do you have passion for what you do? Are you doing work that truly fits who you are and that serves a need? Are you providing a quality product or service for people?

2. Do I CARE about those whom I serve?
Do you genuinely care about your customers and clients? Do your employees know you care about them? A wise man once said you should not use your people to build your work; rather, you should use your work to build your people. Are you “using” people or “serving” people? Adding value to others will allow you to build your team. As John C. Maxwell says, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

If you focus on serving others – CARING – the results will come. Zig Ziglar said it well: “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help other people get what they want.”

When building a business, be sure you have set CARING as your cornerstone. Your success depends on it.