More Life

[I]“What one skill, if you developed and did it in an excellent fashion, would help you the most in your career?”—Brian Tracy, Speaker & Management Consultant[/I]

I dreamt I visited a beautiful, tropical island in the Pacific. As I met with the individuals who lived there, I realized everyone was happy and felt fulfilled. In fact, if you were to ask anyone why life was so good, they would tell you in a nutshell that they experience more life.

Entrepreneurs were happy because they got more out of life from their businesses. Not only were sales good, but also everything else was going well. They were achieving their goals and made important decisions based on a set of shared values. Because things operated so smoothly, the owners and managers could spend less time at work and more quality time with their family, and other areas of interest.

Employees felt like they had more life because their employers provided a fun and challenging environment where they experienced professional growth from quality training programs. The bosses also recognized their staff for the contributions they made, which made them feel valued, and in turn, employees felt compelled to give their best for the job they were paid to do.

The positive environment created for the employees was transferred to the customers who enjoyed their shopping experience at businesses that catered to their needs. Customers were served in a friendly manner and they knew that they received the best value for their money. The customers showed their appreciation through greater loyalty, and by making recommendations to their friends.

Those serving in the government also felt like they were getting more out of life because they felt their jobs made a difference to the individuals they served. The various agencies coordinated their efforts and streamlined their operations to minimize waste and inefficiencies. Everything was done to minimize the hassle to the customer and ensure they got their questions answered quickly.

The overall members of the community felt they had more life because only a few short years ago they were experiencing an economic downturn that threatened their happy existence. However, the government, business, and community leaders were able to do one thing to focus their energies in a positive direction and eventually turned the economy around.

Not only did this one thing help the economy; it also positioned the island as a gem in the Pacific that travelers, investors, and tourists felt compelled to visit. Many articles reported the great qualities of the small island, and the friendly people that lived there. The island was hailed as a model of excellence, and other places used it as an example of economic stability and growth.

This amazing turnaround occurred because this one thing became a nucleus for many other initiatives that eventually brought prosperity and a better of way of life for the people of the island. It was difficult to believe that just a few years earlier, the island had been struggling with many issues. The pressures were great and morale was very low. However, when the solution was found and leaders acted, it changed the whole perspective. It became a continuous loop of good things that continued to make everything even better. This one thing was like a match lit in the darkness of despair to brighten the hopes of everyone. The one things was…

Just then I woke up. But, perhaps you can help answer that question by asking yourself this question: “What one general skill, if developed in an excellent fashion, would make the biggest difference in your job, your business, the government, or in the overall community?”

This one skill, if practiced by everyone, would make a profound impact on the quality of life for yourself and everyone your organization touches. It only takes a few dedicated people to make a difference, and create a better way of life for everyone. According to a recent survey we conducted, the most essential work skill one should develop is customer service.

Customers service is more than something you do, it is something you are. Being customer-focused means that everything you do, say, and feel is measured against the benefit it offers your customers. It means that more customers and tourists will come and want to buy more and return more often, and by giving more you will receive more life.

[I](Rik is a business instructor at NMC and Janel is a partner with BizResults, LLC (www.bizresults.org). They can be contacted at biz_results@yahoo.com.)[/I]