Timeliness

There is an old saying I heard back in my Air Force days, “To be early is to be on time.”  And, the sentiment is true.  If you want to show people that you care, show up just a little early.  It shows the people you are meeting with that you care about and honor the time that they are giving you to work with them.  This courtesy that you extend others is not overlooked and is remembered by those who receive it.

Being late to an appointment or to deliver a product, whether it is the premier item you develop or a free daily blog, is also remembered. Although, not in a positive way. No matter how you work with, and what you do for the customer, there is always one trait that they always look to have. Consistency.

The best consistency you can have is the consistency of keeping clients informed. If you know you won’t be writing a blog for three days because you’re going to be out of town, let your readers know that you won’t be publishing for those three days. You do not have to tell them why you just need to let them know how the results affect them.

We all realize that we live in a world that is sometimes a little unpredictable. We are also all creatures of habit. If there is something that is going to prevent you from doing something you were supposed to do for someone in a timely fashion that you’ve either agreed to do or usually provide, the best advice is to let them know beforehand. And, if there is a small token of appreciation you can add, that is always remembered and goes far towards keeping a valued customer.

I have heard a story about a salesman who sold a suit to someone going out of town on business. The suit did not come back from the alterations department in time. The salesman promised to ship the suit to the hotel where the salesman was staying and have it there before the date the salesman needed it. Not only did the suit arrive at the hotel before the meeting, but the salesman had also picked up two ties which worked well with the suit and sent them along, as a thank you. The customer was delighted and assured many of his friends heard about these good deeds.

There may be over 7 billion people in the world, yet finding customers that appreciate you and are buying precisely what you’re selling is much rarer. We need to honor and recognize the customers we have. And I need to tell you now that I genuinely thank you and all those who read my blog. We need to honor and do the best we can for one another.

Thank you for meeting with me today. I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. View all posts by Mike Balof