Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Business Tuesdays: Under Promise and Over Deliver

I think one of the most important lessons, I have learned the hard way. Why are people unhappy by your work and your service? Maybe you are unhappy about how some service you might have paid for, didn't come up to your expectations. That's the keyword, expectations. An employee expects his employer to take care of him. An employer expects his employee will work hard in return. A husband expects his wife, to take care of him, and in return a wife expects the husband to take care of her. The world is filled with expectations. When I go down to a steakhouse, I'd expect a nice juicy steak on my plate, and not the ones I make at home, which are half cooked and raw. But if that steak is raw and dry, and the worst you had in your life, someone somewhere has let you down. Your brand, your name is a promise. I can expect a Billy's Steakhouse can give me a bad steak, but if I go to a Tony Roma's or something, I expect to have a really good steak. That brand, that name is a promise in itself. 

Enough of general talk. No matter what field you are in, every person trying to make a buck, will promise the moon, the stars, the sun, the galaxy and the whole universe. As a customer, you will be like "Wow! This must be the deal of the century." and when they deliver, the sun, the moon, the stars, the galaxy, but not the whole universe. What's going to happen next? Your expectations will fall. Hence making that the worst deal of the century. Its not about the effort involved. The person might have worked day in day out, to give you the sun, the moon, the stars, and the galaxy, and it must've been their best work, but they over promised and they under delivered. And thats when all that effort will mean to nothing.

This is customer service 101 guys. If you service your clients better then competition, people will pay the extra buck for you. Take some time, and remember why you went to an expensive place only because some one spoke to you nicely. So never promise the sun, the moon and the stars to your client. Always under promise and over deliver.

Join me back on Tuesday, for another round on Business Tuesdays. 
Photo Credits: Apple ; Fruits

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Its got my name on it.


Let me tell you a story, which my English teacher told me back in High School.

There was a team of 2 people, who used to build houses for a living. They worked together for almost every project. (For the sake of the story lets name them Gary and Jones). Gary used to go get the jobs, and Jones used to build the houses. Jones was so good at building houses, that Gary never had to inspect them before delivery. They continued this for many years, till Jones said "Hey Gary! I can't do this anymore, I'm done with building houses, and now I need to retire." Jones was hoping Gary would listen to him and let him retire, but he didn't. Gary said "Jones, I can't let you retire just yet. I have one last job we need to do, and then you are free to retire." Jones was totally annoyed. He just didn't have any heart left in him for the jobs. Since it was his last job, he went ahead and did it, but without heart. For the heck of it, he finished that job, with messy fittings, a bad paint job, and uneven fencing around the house. Jones went back to Gary in his office, and said "Here you go, its all done." and handed over the keys of the house to Gary. Gary smiles back at him and says "Great!" and hands him the keys back and says "Jones, its your home now. A gift from me to you for working for us so long."

Moral of the story: Whatever you do, do it with you heart, because its got your name on it.

It can be anything, anywhere, just put your heart into it, because its got your name on it. It can be a paid job or a non paid job, my passion and my dedication towards it shouldn't change. Why? Because its got your name on it. Your name is what you are. People remember you by your name, and you need to make sure your name is remembered in a good way. At the end of the day, everything you do has your name on it. I always try to give it all I have, and yes, sometimes you loose motivation, but thats when you need to tell yourself, that look, its GOT MY NAME ON IT. I can't repeat this enough, but this is what it is. Whatever field you are in, you need to remember that you represent your name, which is a brand. No matter how small or big, its your name, and everything you do, HAS YOUR NAME ON IT. So go ahead and nail everything, anything everytime you do. 

Photo courtesy : Ali A. Daud

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Keeping your head high.

Its been a hectic long week, with a lot of eventful things happening. One of the many eventful things is India winning the Cricket World Cup 2011; Congrats. Now that the cricket fever is starting to wear off, lets get back on track.

Opportunities don't come knocking at your door until you've reached a high point in life, where you have various opportunities on an ala carte menu. I want to and can grab anything out of the hat, but I won't. I want to choose which way I steer this boat of mine. Then I think to myself, am I even on the boat yet?

I'm in the most confused state of minds right now, and this isn't the best time to write on the blog, but I'm still going to do it. I've kept my head high for a lot of things in life, and I am going to continue to do so. All I'm waiting for is that ignition to this venture. That one opportunity to go out there and prove not to the world, but to myself that I can do what I believe in.

Its not easy trying to give birth to this artist within you, when your life is filled with responsibilities. There have been times where I feel like throwing in the towel, but by God, I need to be hit by lighting for that. I have a goal; and that is to make a living out of something I love. What do athletes do when they see a hurdle or an obstacle. They jump over it and run to the finish line. That's what I'm going to do. Jump over the hurdle, and keep going. That's what I did when I was an athlete, doesn't have to change now. I don't believe in overnight fame or money. Every hurdle or obstacle I pass is a strong brick in this tower of success I'm building. And towers weren't made overnight.