It takes twenty years to become an overnight success.
– Eddie Cantor
After working many hard hours as a swimming pool manager, a welder and a shopkeeper – there was this kid who decided to persue his passion for cooking. This person is now an award winning, ‘ovenight’ celebrity known as Gordon Ramsay.
How many countless kids sit in their room, night after night to practice their instruments before they ever step up on a stage. And how many years do most of these kids work before becoming an ‘overnight success’?
There is a theme among all the most successful people I know. Its’ consistency, passion, desire.
These people at some point in their lives decided that the way to be happy was to follow their passion.
It can seem like a ‘dream job’ at some point. Because these people seem to have it all! And how often do we see them, especially when they are young, as ‘lucky?’
Is it really the case?
Are we as capable of becoming this ‘talented’?
Today I want to talk about something that took me many years to realize – maybe I can save you a decade or so!
A key to success is consistency.
Far too long I ran around like a chicken without a head. Thinking the more people I could possibly add to my customer list – the more people I would sell to. I was busy as hell running in circles and the quality of my service sucked.
Sure – I had triple the amount of customers that most reps had, and every one of them was buying from me. But were they really getting what they wanted? Was it one good experience followed by a lesser experience, and then an even lesser experience? Eventually they would drop me, and I wouldn’t even notice because I was so busy trying to get even more people to buy from me?
Isn’t that what a lot of businesses do?
Have you ever had tried of those ‘introductory offers’? You get in line hotly anticipating the money you will save – only to take advantage and never come back again because it was so annoying! The owner of the business was happy because they think they attracted a ton of new business, but never thought even a minute about the loyal customers they offended by offering a new special. The business never gave a second thought about being too busy at the store now to take proper care for their good customers. The people who gave them a chance to begin with, who helped them build their damned business!!
I HATE that several businesses that I used to cater to me have become a victim of their own success. I would rather pay a premium price to have a quality product and be catered to than get in line behind a bunch of people who just got a better deal than I ever did! If the new patrons found out by word of mouth, and I have to wait in line, and the QUALITY is still CONSISTENT – then I am proud to keep patronizing these businesses! But they still better remember who gave the ‘word of mouth’!
Make sure to treat your best customers special. Always. Reward them frequently. Tell them you love them. Hug them.
These are the people who stuck with you when you screwed up. The people who looked the other way when the product wasn’t consistent and told you how to perfect it. The people who told their friends they really need to try you out. Don’t EVER forget them and put them at the back of the line.
Ok – got off track there a bit. That’s why this is called ‘Rants and Raves!’
Consistency comes from years of har
d work, a passion for what you are doing and is always limited by your own personal abilities.
d work, a passion for what you are doing and is always limited by your own personal abilities.
That’s why you CAN’T HIRE someone to do your job. Sure, you can find talented people. But every time you add one – you are taking a risk of losing the right formula.
That’s why you need to focus on your current customers. Only taking on new business if the new customers understand what you REALLY offer. If you need to market yourself, take your time and build on reputation and quality.
If you ARE going to offer something to a new customer – make sure your OLD customer gets that and then some!!
If you plan on growth – make sure you can handle the growth. Make sure the people you work with take their time and don’t put too much on the plate. Don’t let the ball get dropped.
If you find yourself running in circles – drop your ‘C’ customers. Increase your prices instead of lowering your quality, adding more staff, taking a chance of losing your consistency….
Don’t forget it takes YEARS to become an Overnight success!
Stick with me for more ‘secrets’ of a $6 Million Dollar man….
I still want to chat a little about other things a loser like me was able to learn the hard way about…..
Quality.
Passion.
Desire.
Organization.
Commitment.
Loyalty.
One thing that has always worked for everyone?
a SMILE!!!
Warren Bobinski
Success in Dentistry and Life!
