It Just Takes One

November 2, 2009
33 Comments

You’re in business – you have competitors. They make a similar product, similar price – how can you separate? How about great service, great follow-up, great pro-activity? How about attracting the non-fans through acknowledging the other service as a solid competitor?

People watch; take notes, mental and physical. People remember. They remember how you work; how you react; how you talk. Professionalism is more than just being professional to the person directly in front of you; it also means being professional about who’s around you.

People watch; take notes. It just takes one note to start a book on your approach. Want to be a bestseller or a bargain-bin leftover?

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33 Comments - Add yours!
  • Good point, Danny, on multiple fronts!

    As a career professional, I teach networking to my clients, including how to use the tools that you and I use in social media, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. I often coach young people to be aware of who is watching. In this day and age, your digital footprint lasts forever and can be hard to overcome.

    Secondly, I think of how hard it is for many of us to keep up. I think that underpromising and overdelivering have to be part of your plan. For me, I want to help so I say yes, and then I am buried in paperwork, deadlines, etc. People watch that too.
  • Agreed, Julie - it's easy to just concentrate on the digital component, but there are still plenty of eyes looking towards you offline as well.
  • mossgreenchildrensbooks
    Oh so right.......On a similar vein

    Early in my working life I was told about the concept of the silent vote at work. This worked well for me and helped me make more good decisions than bad decisions.

    The silent vote is taken by those around you and in front of you. Everyone is watching and judging your words, decisions and actions. They give you a "Thumbs up," "Horizontal thumb" or a "Thumbs down." Silently and with out you knowing about it.

    The accumulation of votes over a period is how you are perceived.

    Before, you act of decide on something mentally check your decision against the silent vote. If you are going to get a Thumbs down then you need to be very sure that you are taking the right decision and have a strong supporting rational that can be understood even if not appreciated.
  • Love the idea of a "silent vote" - now if only more companies and people would latch onto that fact!
  • Excellent post, Danny. Short and to the point. Good reminders for all of us.
  • FrankReed
    Hey Danny -

    Ouch that bargain bin leftover image was tough.I think next year I will be that for Halloween. How easy it is to forget that there are more people watching and taking in our activities then we ever imagined. I would hate to think how many folks I have turned off with some of my antics.

    Be vigilant or be forgotten (or even worse, talked about in a negative way).

    Thanks and have a great day.
  • I immediately thought of Southwest Airlines when I read this post -- they're SO responsive to their customers, and their competitor's customers, and they understand that's a big differentiating point for them.

    Knowing what makes you good and what makes your competitors good positions you to fill the right niche and talk to the right people. And being honest about what you offer and referring customers to competitors when you don't offer what they need builds trust and loyalty. Can't get much better than that!

    Short and sweet. Nice post, Danny.
  • Southwest are a great example, Teresa. Too many companies seem to ignore the opportunities that are around them by concentrating solely on their own ship. While you need to do that, you also need to be aware of opportunities if you really want to grow. Get your house in order and folks will soon start looking towards you more.
  • A very short post but very direct. Nice post.
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