Sometimes, no, maybe every bit of the time, we think of business as the cold, hard application of steely resolve and ravenous greed to extract ill-gotten profits from unwilling customers.
But wait.
We know that, aside from certain criminal organizations, the only people who take money by use of force is our own government. We accept this use of force as being done for our own well-being, or else we try to vote in a government that is hopefully less greedy.
So, what is “business”, and how can I possibly use “love” and “business” in the same sentence? As I just reviewed, business has a very hard time getting you to buy something, or to do business with them, unless they can convince you that you’ll like it. They also know that, if they are dishonest about what they are offering, you, the customer will soon find out and stop doing business with them altogether. For instance, who would invest with Bernie Madoff, or send money to a mysterious millionaire in Nigeria, and when is the last time you’ve seen a Yugo on the road, if you even remember what one is?!?
Have you ever heard the saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”? But what is “caring”?
In real terms, “caring” (or “love”) is not sentimental words, but beneficial actions. That employer — your “Customer” — has asked you for help because they have a need, and are willing to take money right out of their profits and trade that money for your services.
There are entire books devoted to helping you to find the answers to the question, “What does my Customer need?” But I cannot stress this enough:
LOVE is not measured by the GIVER, but by the RECEIVER.
It’s like the man who gave his wife cleaning supplies on Valentine’s Day, and then wondered why his wife thought him an unromantic clod. Don’t be a clod. Give your “Customer” something that means something to them.
If you show real love in business, then one of two things will happen:
(1.) You will get compensated by your “Customer”. Or,
(2.) You will outgrow your present “Customer”, and find a new “Customer” who will compensate you.
Either way, you win. You, and everyone you touch.
May the God of hope fill you with hope,
Rick Stockton
Mentor, Career Transition Workshop
A helpful hint:
From time to time, make a short list of what you think your “Customer’s” needs are, and then observe during the following week: Was your list realistic? What are the things that your “Customer” sees as beneficial? What was on your list that was not really something that your “Customer” wanted?