When is the last time you were delighted with a buying experience? Do you expect to be delighted, or are you simply happy when something doesn’t go badly?
Differentiation has never been more important than it is now. Business owners are fighting for their lives, competing more dramatically than ever before for the same dollar. Anything can happen in the current climate. One thing is sure – those that survive will have successfully set themselves apart from others offering the same or similar products and services.
As consumers, we have a tremendous amount of options related to our purchases. We can shop the net instead of shopping local merchant stores. We can always find a lower price, if we are willing to spend the time looking. We crave service like never before, matching one experience with a vendor up to the next one – looking for a reason to buy.
We want to feel good. We don’t want to feel taken advantage of. We want someone to acknowledge us as people during the process of our purchase. We want our needs to be recognized and met.
We will be spending a lot of money in the next several weeks. How will we choose where to spend it? My guess is that all other things being equal, service will be a motivating factor for discerning consumers who long for positive experiences.
How can you deliver a uniquely delightful experience deserving of the decision someone makes to buy from you?
Coach Charrise
It seems like people are thirsty for good news these days. Many of you have been personally affected by the downward turn in the economy. The truth is, there are opportunities to thrive regardless of the circumstances in your life. Some people would say that it’s all they can do simply to survive. That’s not the kind of life you would choose, if you really knew you had options. The beautiful thing is, you do have options. You always do.
You can choose to be a victim. Many people are eager to shift the blame for the condition of their life to others – other people, other circumstances. Or you can take an ownership attitude and take personal responsibility for your life. The choice is yours.
The truth is that our lives are a story that we make up. Steve Chandler, my coach, taught me that we have the power to reinvent ourselves at any time our story isn’t working. How cool is that? We can rise to the challenge by simply changing who we think we are, and what we think we can do. We can create a blank slate.
Steve wrote a book called “Reinventing Yourselfâ€. It’s one of my favorites. Click here to learn more about it.
Coach Charrise
One of my Twitter mini posts today posed the question “What will you do today that scares you?â€
If you’re living your life as fully as you could, you’re bound to do something that is scary. Otherwise, you’re caught living a life of status quo. For some people, status quo is all they know. Like a fish, it’s the water they’re swimming in, and they don’t know any other way.
What if…
What if you discovered there IS another way? Imagine how you felt the last time you did something unusual. Maybe it was as simple as allowing yourself to get lost by driving streets you don’t know, just to explore. Or perhaps you spoke to a stranger in a way you would not ordinarily speak. For me, I imagine a time while on vacation when I want zip-lining in Mexico. I was very scared yet very committed, and had a blast! Let’s imagine that anything is possible – because it simply is.
What can you do today that takes you out of your comfort zone? How can you use this day to have a greater impact? Does this thought give you goose bumps? Does it cause you to retreat? Does it fire you up? Notice the feeling you get, and pay attention to what your instincts tell you. Be careful not to confuse your instincts with the little voice in your head. The little voice in your head is not you. It is ego wrapped up in fear with a shot of dread and worry. It is not YOU.
You were created to be uniquely equipped to make a difference. Sometimes we forget that, but the knowing is always somewhere inside us.
Coach Charrise
