I hope it’s clear that I’m doing work I love. Obviously, I would never settle for less. But you know what else I won’t settle for? Doing business with someone who doesn’t like their work. Do you think I want a mechanic working on my prized cars who hates what he’s doing? Do you think I’d go to a dentist who despised her profession? (And yes, there are too many in this category.)
No, I’ll go to extra lengths to make sure I’m doing business with people who have found their passion. We’ve had the same guys doing our yard work for over 15 years. They blow the grass off our gravel driveway and trim around trees so far back on our property few people ever see the extra care. Our chiropractor doesn’t just give a quick adjustment – he wants to know what we’re thinking, reading and eating. The guy who is doing trim work in our kitchen rejects pre-made corner pieces as he can craft more beautiful ones himself. Our massage therapist doesn’t just pop in to check us off her list each week. Rather, she thanks us every time for the privilege of working on us. Yeah, she really showed up last week with this shirt. 
Our webmaster inquires about our long term goals and suggests creative things we could do to help more people. Our book publisher invites us to dinner when he’s in town and shares about the latest Habitat for Humanity house he’s funding. When the guys come to check our HVAC system they take their shoes off out of respect for the way Joanne keeps our house. We share life with the people we do business with. We tip generously and thank them for their area of expertise.
So often I hear about poor service and angry encounters with service providers. I think we need to choose more carefully who we do business with. Doing business is not a win-lose proposition. Everybody can win.
- Ask for referrals when needing to connect with a business.
- Ask the person about their view of the work they do.
- Thank the person for their work and show your appreciation.
What has your experience been in having people work for you?
Dan,
You are so right. I think the same is true when choosing people for whom we do work. I have some amazing working relationships (like with you) and some that puzzle me…those usually become “former clients.” Great working relationships are rooted in mutual deference. Deference is defined as yielding or submitting to the judgment of a recognized superior out of respect or reverence. I know what I know, but I also know what I don’t know. Partnering with people who strengthen my weaknesses enables me to invest my talents in areas where they aren’t so strong. It’s a win-win situation.
Dan,
I too love sharing love with the folks I work with. In working with my VA (virtual assistant) it is so exciting to see the abundant blessings she has brought to my family as well as ours to hers. Her dad passed away when she was quite young. As a single mom in the Philippines her mom worked hard to provide for her 3 kids. Today those kids all grew up to do their own things including her daughter who works with me part time and spends her other working time as a marine biology graduate and teacher. All the money she earns doing part-time VA works goes towards building her mom’s home that had to be eventually knocked down due to it falling a part and a new highway coming through. It has been three years now working with each other and she excitedly told me the other day that their “dream home” for their mom is 80% complete. Getting to share in her wins as well as having her share in mine are so fulfilling. I don’t ever look at the folks I work with as “just” business only folks – they are people that I want to open up and share life with. YOU and Joanne talk me a great deal about this over the years and for that my family and I are SOOO grateful. Thank you Dan!
Jen
Ah thanks. It seems so easy to want to “share in their wins” yet it seems lots of folks still are looking for a win/lose scenario. I’m convinced our way is more fun and more profitable.
Dan,
I want to know where your massage therapist got that T-shirt! My best friend is a LMT and I’d love to get that shirt as a gift for her. She truly loves her job. Thanks!
Trish
Trish – I asked Ninette yesterday when she was here giving us massages. She said she ordered it here – http://teespring.com/#q=massage%20therapist&p=1
Powerful on so many levels! Thank you, Dan. Every Friday, my awesome assistant, Lara, completes a weekly KRA – Key Results Area. (Learned about from Dave Ramsey and EntreLeadership). Not only does it help keep the lines of communication open and clear, but it gives me an opportunity to know what’s going on in her family life and seek ways to serve her. Treating people right, with dignity and respect, who serve us well is so important.