In business, there are two types of things. Small things, and big things. The problem is, we often times let the small things takeover the big ones.
Take the new Todaymade office as a perfect example. New office, new desks, and lots of little things to become a distraction. Signs need to be hung, folders need to be organized, and new refrigerators need to be filled with Diet Coke.
At the same time, new leads need to be contacted, blog posts need to be written, and projects need to be finished.
As a designer I am reminded of the small vs. big phenomenon every once and again. Businesses nit-pick over the little details on a new design or a freshly written block of copy. No doubt about it, some things matter. At the same time, though, some things don't.
Take your competitors as an example. Pretty easy to dwell on them isn't it? We worry about them. We worry when they steal our price list, or copy one of our techniques.
We worry when we see them offering something that we don't.
We get distracted by little things, and forget about the things that really matter.
Like,
- Are our customers really happy?
- Did we give them the best possible product that we could?
- How can we improve on what we do?
- How can we make what we do more unique?
- How can we care more than the others?
The biggest thing of all is that you care.
Care about your customers that is, not your competitors or the fridge stocked with Diet Coke.
Care about their well being.
Care about the value that you give them.
Care about the things they say about you when you aren't listening.
Care that they are having a hay day with social media, and you're not.
Really, at the end of the day it is all about who cares more. That's the big thing.
I will leave you with a quote from the great Gary Vaynerchuck. If you don't know him, then let me suggest you start with his latest book The Thank You Economy. Well, well, worth the read.
Your competitors are bigger. Out care them!
Your competitors are cheaper. Out care them!
Your competitors have celebrity status and you don't. Out care them!
- Gary Vaynerchuck