A valuable customer lesson I learned a few years into my first business as an entrepreneur.

I had worked hard on becoming an entrepreneur. The best decision I made to earn extra income was start a business . I began making so much extra money, that I forgot a most important rule. Allow me to share some small business advice that may save you a lot of time and money.

Everyone right now is getting his or her products or services from someone. Why would your target market, switch? Well, because of you. You may have a special product or service, but the reason they switched, is because of you. I had grown my business so fast and so quickly, that I failed to realize why they switched to me. I took my clients for granted. That’s how I got their business in the first place, because I cared. However, I became complacent. Over a period of time, I had lost a few of my large clients. I didn’t understand why that happened, until I met with my mentor.

During our consultation, I explained my frustration. He gave me the simplest explanation, which I will share with you. Have you ever noticed the word sales? It’s plural. Which means more than one. It’s not saleman, salewomen or saleperson. It’s sales, with an s. You have to continually sell your customer on the fact that you are the best person they can receive their products and services from.

The same principle can be applied to your everyday life with your friends, family, kids, and especially your spouse. He went on to say, “I hope you just didn’t make one big sale pitch, put a ring on her finger and think she’s just going to be happy with you for the rest of your life?” After that business advice, I went home to my wife and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Today still, I continually sell her on the fact that I’m the best guy for her. These home based business ideas can also be applied to the part time income earners. I apply the same business ideas to my clients, and everyone whom I mentor in business. Uber & Lyft, didn’t reinvent the wheel, they just realized what others in their profession forgot. Which is, “If you don’t take care of the customer, someone else will.”

Recommended Reading

1. How to win friends & Influence people – Dale Carnegie