I have a son getting married in September. Over the weekend, we were shopping for a suit for his wedding. We planned to visit a couple large department stores, but beforehand, we stopped at a newly-opened custom suit shop near our home called “Magro’s.” I dropped them off and ran an errand with my younger kids. When I picked up my wife and son, they were buzzing.
They had spoken to the store owner, who had given my son all the choices and preferences he could dream of. My son would be able to get a fully custom suit for the price of an off-the-shelf suit at one of the department stores we were considering. The price was compelling, but what really mattered was the way the business owner excitedly talked about the options with my wife and son. The business owner’s passion for his craft made all the difference.
As we continued shopping for other things that day, my wife and son commented on the business owner’s passion. It was infectious. It drew them in. It got them excited about the purchase they were making. It closed off their minds to the competition. As we talked, we agreed that small business passion makes all the difference. It’s why business owners do what they do. It’s why we do what we do at Keap: Our passion is your passion.
Here’s a warning for you: If we’re not careful, as business owners our passion can fade. The grind and hustle of small business can sometimes crowd out the passion and fun. If you notice that happening, all you need to do is remember WHY you do what you do. Read some testimonials, ask your customers how you’re impacting them, remember the reason you started your business in the first place.
If you find yourself “off” a bit, get your passion back and you’ll get your groove back.
SBS Idea of the Day: Make it a regular practice to read testimonials and success stories of your customers. If you’re not collecting them, start doing that. Your customers’ stories will fuel your passion.