Be Different or be dead

May 5, 2012

3 important priorities to have when you’re out of time

Source: Unsplash

3 important priorities to have when you’re out of time.

There is never enough time to do everything possible.

Successful organizations are brilliant at focusing on the critical few things they need to get done right.

They don’t get caught up chasing possibilities. There are many things you COULD do (are fun and comfortable) but there are usually only a handful of things that really matter to your success.

People can only really do three things well at the same time (ok maybe four but NOT ten).

Here are three things that I have found really matter if you are challenged with limited resources and time:

Rule #1 - BE mindlessly focused on your loyal customers

Know who they are. What they desire. Ask them to get involved in your business. Ask them for advice. Treat them special. Help connect them with each other and with you. NEVER offer a special promotion or deal to try and entice new customers; offer the best deals to your loyal customers first.

Your success is a function of how well you treat people who are loyal to you. Take care of them and they will return the favor.

Rule #2 - BE the ONLY ones who do what you do

If your business doesn’t have an ONLY Statement, you don’t have a competitive position. And you will be indistinguishable from the herd. And you will be invisible. And you won’t attract business. And you will most likely fail and die.

It’s a tough job, but spend whatever time it takes to build your ONLY: “We are the ONLY ones that….”. Pure uniqueness in the market gets rewarded. A member of the faceless herd does not.

Rule #3 - Create VALUE for your fans and be more than a product play

Flogging products is what the herd does. Competing on product features is what they do. Offering discounted prices. Copying best of breed (the best cow is still a cow, right?).

Change the rules of engagement. Break out of the herd. Create stuff that delights people. Leaves them breathless. Excites them. Surprises them. Makes them happy. Honours them.

When you illicit these feelings you have created value for them. Package stuff together with a single value proposition: you’re not in the moving business; you “move lives” and you could bring together many services under that umbrella.

Look for the impact your product has on people. Don’t simply push the technology or narrow features.

Fans, uniqueness and value. All you need when you know time is running out

Cheers,
Roy
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• Posted 5.5.12 at 09:40 am by Roy Osing
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