It’s the 4th of July, I’m downtown celebrating, and Mike walks up and says, “Hey, I need a part and I can’t find your dad.”
Mike and his family own an amazing fishing lodge (https://www.rockypointresortak.com) where I grew up. And having all their boats working during the summer is what makes their livelihoods for the whole year work.
So I said, “Okay, drive me out to the shop and if you can help me find it it’s yours.”
And this marks the first in a series I’m calling:
Growing Up In a Boat Shop.
When you go into business for yourself you are making a promise to your customer.
You’re saying, “I’m going to be here for you, for this thing. You can count on me.”
Sure, you’ll have boundaries and you’ll take vacations and stuff… But, at the end of the day, you’re going to show up for them because that’s the promise you made. That’s the agreement you made that serves you both.
How does this apply to you?
…That depends on what you said you’d do.
- What have you promised?
- What have you made it abundantly clear that you’re here for?
- And not here for?
This work, this clarifying work, is important. It helps you know when to say, “No,” and know that you’re in integrity. And, when to hop in the truck and get the customer their part so they can get their boats running and keep their customers happy.
I knew that my dad took really good care of those lodge families because those lodge families are really good customers and they are on a time crunch. That was clear to me, so that is how I showed up that day.
So, take a moment, right now. Grab a pen and paper, and reflect for yourself on those 3 questions above. Get honest with yourself.
Then, check in:
- Do you like your answers?
- What, if anything, needs to shift?
- Who would you be without those promises?
- Are you promising what you mean to?
- What needs to be dug into deeper here?
Now, don’t forget what you just uncovered. Think of one way you can strengthen your business’s promise this week – for yourself and for the customer.
In community,
