The 2 Most Important Things We Do

As new staff join us and or we have interns, my goal within the first 60 or so days, is to have instilled in them the two most important things we do and why. 

First is proposals. The key to any good proposal is to have a solid, no bs, understanding of the potential client’s culture, current status and goals and to demonstrate that in a proposal. In essence, a good proposal is saying “I get you”. We’re going to work well together because I get you. From there, the connection is made.

The second most important thing we do is, in detail, demonstrate our worth or our client’s ROI. If we can’t demonstrate our relevance to a client, they’re certainly not going to recognize it on their own. These two things: relating and demonstrating your company’s value is everything in our business. Without these two things we’re not working and we’re not relevant. The end.

Best Business Practices

We’ve all heard the ‘ole adage, “eighty percent of success is showing up”. I remember the first time I heard that and thought, WOW, how simple is that. Too simple to be true, or so I thought. If I were in the position to influence young people today, that simple principle is something I would strongly impress upon them along with a few others. Here’s my so simple, yet so right on, list. (I’d love to hear what’s worked, or working in your life too!)

-show up

-follow up

-be responsive

-listen

-do what you say you’re going to do

It’s really pretty simple isn’t it?

(*Who said it - the 80% thing? Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman co-writers of the Oscar winning screenplay movie Annie Hall, were interviewed together. The following words were spoken by Marshall Brickman, but he attributed the adage to Woody Allen.)

Such a great story. Such a great lesson. Don’t assume. Don’t act too quickly or harshly.

I used to read the story of Genghis Khan and His Hawk to my little boy when he was growing up. To this day, it remains one of my favorites. Such great lessons. If you know the story, you know how great it is. If you don’t, give it a read. It’ll make you think and inspire you to think things through, not act too rashly and as Genghis says, never to do anything in anger. http://www.inspirationalstories.com/1/167.html