ARE YOU A DIFFERENCE MAKER?

 

Two years ago, and again this past spring, I wrote about a looming recession the likes of the early 80’s. Believe me it wasn’t my great macro-economic mind that forecasted it. I attended a conference where a firm with a 60-year history of successful economic predictions presented their forecast. I paid attention. Back then, I shared with you the areas that these experts indicated would remain recession-proof: education, food-related industries like grocery, health care, and senior living to name a few.

 

I told the Prophiteers back then, “There is a really good chance in the next 18 months we will hit a recession. And Prophit Marketing will NOT be participating in it.” Our strategy focused on finding categories within these recession-proof areas that would help propel us through difficult financial times. One advantage we already had was a strong grocery flagship client, Festival Foods. We began focusing on non-competing grocery and food products and it paid off. We also have partnered with other categories that have found a protective niche within this poor economic climate.

 

I am honored to be able to work with these great leaders of industry who have taught me as much, if not more than, I have taught them. It’s made us mutually better and viable. I would like to hear your story of how you are winning in a down market. What did you do differently? How is your industry already resilient to economic downturns?

 

I’ve realized that we are all susceptible to financial hardship. I have also realized that the folks who are the most innovative and creative survive. By creative, I don’t mean they created a TV or radio script or some silly campaign. I mean the ones who stand out in their industry. The ones customers remember and say, “Cool, that’s never happened to me like that before.”

 

Pay attention to your customers and respond to their “throw away” comments when they sigh about something not being right. Ask more questions and understand what they are looking for. Example, an employee who delivered room service at a Four Seasons Hotel was sick of customers complaining about their toast being cold when it arrived in their room. This employee decided to bring their own toaster to work. Whenever a customer ordered toast in the morning this associate would bring bread up to the room, plug in the toaster and tell the customer, “Your toast will be ready in about 45 seconds.” The top management heard of this and bought toasters for every room in their hotels.

 

Anyone can be a difference maker. So what are you doing? I want to know. Perhaps our other readers do too!

 

–Joe Kiedinger–

 

ACTION PLAN: Decide to be a difference maker for the business you work for. Your job satisfaction will go through the roof and so will your customer loyalty.