I recently spotted a headline that read, “Young entrepreneur has business bean for marketing coffee.”
The article was about a ten-year-old boy named Stephen who was running a three-person business from his front lawn while learning about the rudiments of turning a buck. Little does he know that what he is learning today will serve him well for the next 50+ years.
Says the young man: “It takes a lot of hard work to show up every morning.” There are literally thousands of adults today who were apparently sick on the day this lesson was taught. FACT: Too many of today’s working class reluctantly show up for work physically, but remain in the sack mentally.
Listen to his take on customer service:
To keep customers coming back (it appears he already understands the primary purpose of a business), Stephen said he started with a business plan that included training for his three paid employees. What a novel idea! Do you mean that it is a good idea to train your people? Now this kid is miles ahead of the curve.
Get a load of this comment from the next potential Bill Gates: “Employees are expected (1) to be nice to customers; (2) be quick because people might be in a rush; (3) be on time for work, and (4) get the orders right.”
This kid is in the fifth grade and he is successfully running a business from his front yard thanks to a few time-proven business-building principles. And you tell me how rough it is out there. Maybe all you need is a lesson or two from a 10-year old.
Let me recap before we go to market this week.
- Show up for work. (Both physically and mentally.)
- Train your employees. (On the basics, then review the basics again.)
- Treat your customers well. (Just as if they were the ones with the wallets in their pockets)
Out of the mouth of babes. Stephen, I think you are my new hero.
Mike Marchev is always looking for a few more proactive travel professionals to join his Sales and Marketing Club. Send for details.