WHEN YOU TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE,
PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS
Some of the greatest business secrets are not secrets at all.
Treat people right.
Keep your word.
Deliver what you promised.
Solve problems.
Do those things consistently and business often takes care of itself.
PEOPLE FIRST…
THEN BUSINESS
WHEN YOU TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE,
PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS
What is so unusual about this statement?
People first.
Then business.
To me, that seems like the natural order of things.
After all, who are we serving?
People.
Who buys the products?
People.
Who uses the services?
People.
Who spreads the good word?
People.
Who spreads the bad word?
People.
It has always amazed me how many businesses forget this simple truth.
THE CUSTOMER IS NOT AN INTERRUPTION
Some businesses treat customers as interruptions.
As inconveniences.
As numbers.
As transactions.
That is a dangerous mistake.
The customer is not interrupting your business.
The customer IS your business.
Without people, there is no business.
Without trust, there is no customer.
Without service, there is no trust.
The formula is remarkably simple.
Take care of people.
And people will take care of you.
THE SYSTEM WORKS
When customers are treated fairly, they return.
When promises are kept, they return.
When mistakes are corrected, they return.
When they feel respected, they return.
More importantly, they tell others.
Word of mouth remains one of the most powerful forces in business.
Always has been.
Always will be.
A happy customer becomes a walking advertisement.
An unhappy customer becomes one too.
THE KISS OF DEATH
The reverse is equally true.
Take people for granted.
Ignore complaints.
Break promises.
Hide behind policies.
Act indifferent.
Sooner or later the market responds.
The public notices.
Reputations suffer.
Business declines.
What follows is often called the Kiss of Death.
Bad word of mouth.
A force powerful enough to humble even the largest organizations.
It is no respecter of persons.
SUCCESS LEAVES CLUES
One reason companies like Nordstrom, Disneyland, Chick-fil-A, and many great family businesses thrive is because they understand something.
People remember how you made them feel.
The product matters.
The service matters.
The experience matters.
The feeling matters most.
A customer who feels appreciated often becomes loyal.
Loyalty is not purchased.
It is earned.
POWER CAN CORRUPT
Now let us discuss where this principle sometimes breaks down.
Power.
When people acquire enough power, money, influence, or status, some begin believing they no longer need the people who helped place them there.
Politicians sometimes do this.
Corporate executives sometimes do this.
Organizations sometimes do this.
The courting ends.
The promises fade.
The priorities change.
Suddenly people become secondary.
History repeatedly demonstrates what follows.
Loss of trust.
Loss of support.
Loss of credibility.
ACCOUNTABILITY MUST REMAIN
One of the great protections built into healthy systems is accountability.
When people remain accountable, they behave differently.
When people believe they are above accountability, problems begin.
This applies everywhere.
Government.
Business.
Marriage.
Friendship.
Parenting.
Leadership.
Character.
Accountability protects everyone involved.
It keeps power honest.
It keeps intentions pure.
It keeps people grounded.
ABOVE THE LAW
The moment someone believes they are above the rules that apply to everyone else, danger enters the room.
The Golden Rule works because everyone is bound by it.
Treat others as you would want to be treated.
Simple.
Elegant.
Effective.
The moment we exempt ourselves from that principle, things begin to unravel.
PEARLS TO PONDER
One of the strongest Pearls themes throughout the years has been this:
“No one got to where they are without the help of another.”
Think about that.
Every successful person.
Every successful company.
Every successful leader.
Every successful organization.
Someone helped.
Someone purchased.
Someone believed.
Someone supported.
Someone sacrificed.
The wise never forget that.
Another Pearl says:
“The greatest treasure you will ever discover is another human being.”
Not a customer.
Not a voter.
Not a client.
A human being.
Treat them accordingly.
NORMAL IS GOOD
Some people think kindness is weakness.
It is not.
Some think fairness is outdated.
It is not.
Some think service is old-fashioned.
It is not.
People first is not revolutionary.
It is normal.
It is how healthy systems function.
It is how families function.
It is how communities function.
It is how businesses flourish.
POWER VIA ONLINE REVIEWS
This pushed people to change
as negative reviews are the kiss of death
negative word of mouth is poison too
WHAT THEN?
Take care of people.
Listen carefully.
Serve honestly.
Keep your promises.
Remain accountable.
Value relationships over transactions.
See the human being before you see the opportunity.
Because when you put people first…
Business becomes a natural by-product.
And when enough people practice that principle…
Everybody wins.
— Richie
Pearls for the Soul
when you feed the soul, you feed everything.
https://pearlsforthesoul.com
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