There’s a commonly held belief that business success results from selling as many products or services as possible to as many consumers as possible at the highest prices possible while also paying the lowest costs possible to make as much money as possible.
Following this limited perspective of success leaves everyone involved feeling taken advantage of; undervalued; used; and, most importantly, unhappy.
Truly successful businesses aren’t just money making machines. They also represent tremendous opportunities to make life more pleasant and the world a better place — if they’re used for such noble causes.
In my work with companies over the past 21 years, I’ve repeatedly witnessed the dramatic differences between businesses that truly care about their team members, customers and community and those that don’t.
A truly successful business — one that benefits the many and not merely the few — strives to create as much happiness and success as possible for customers, team members, business owners and the community while generating profits in the process. This balanced approach takes all players into account, spreading the fruits of everyone’s labor far and wide for the betterment of the whole.
It all begins with the lifeblood of any successful business — its customers. If they’re not happy with the products and services provided to them in exchange for their hard-earned money, they won’t return — or, for that matter, speak very highly of your company.
As you consider your customer base, it’s important to see them as human beings who’ve chosen to do business with you and not dollar signs to add to your bottom line. When customers are valued and treated with respect, integrity and care, they become raving fans of you, your team and your business. The happiness and success of everyone increases.
The same principle applies to your team members. Without them, your company wouldn’t function. Without their dedication, it would be impossible to operate a high- quality business. Their agreement to devote large portions of their lives to help you in exchange for earning a living shouldn’t be taken for granted. Like you, your team members have dreams of happiness and success. Their families depend on them just as yours depend upon you.
Your team members serve as a conduit between your business and customers. They’re not cogs in the wheel of business, they’re humans. The more you care for your team members, the more they’ll care for you. When you value and treat them with dignity, they will give their best to you and your customers. The happier they are, the stronger your business will be and the more success everyone will enjoy.
When you operate from the mindset others want to enjoy happiness and success the same as you, you treat people differently. Through this larger perspective, team members and customers cease to be objects necessary to achieve your financial dreams. Instead, they become vital links in a chain that creates happiness and success throughout the process of doing business.
Of course, you can’t please everyone. Some team members and customers will never be satisfied with even your exceptional efforts. In the pursuit of greater happiness and success, you’ll need to let certain team members and customers go.
However, companies that operate from a win-win-win perspective where happy customers, team members and owners succeed are the most rewarding companies to do business with, work for and run. These businesses give as well as receive.
There’s more to business success than profits, status, prestige and power. Conducting business in ways that honor and support everyone who contributes their time and resources to its well-being positions a company to serve the greater purpose of creating happiness and success in the world. Its mission becomes a more encompassing endeavor, one not solely focused on generating wealth for owners and investors.
You, your customers and team members and are all in business together. It’s a symbiotic relationship. When you operate from this balanced perspective — one that takes into account the best interests of everyone involved and not just yours – your business will produce happiness and even more success while also improving the quality of life and the world.
