Running a successful business takes a lot of energy and there are so many areas that as a business owner you need to pay attention too.It's not enough to spend heaps of time, money and resources into getting buyers for your goods and services and then leaving those clients/customers to their own devices.
If you want to work less, have more time and make more money one very important aspect you have to take care of on an ongoing basis is nurturing those people who are prepared to spend their money with you.
You cannot afford to take their money, sell goods or perform services and then hope they will call you when they need too.
The Hairdresser A couple of weeks ago I visited my hairdresser for my regular appointment. Now I have been loyally going to this hairdresser for at least 2 years, approximately every six weeks.
On this particular occasion there were a couple of clients having their hair coloured and owner and another assistant were fawning over three kittens which had kindly been supplied by local vet. Apparently vet was looking for a good home for kittens and John,the owner and another staff member were going to take them home. The kittens were staying afternoon at salon for benefit of their new owners (my hairdresser and his assistant).
So here we were in an upmarket salon, with three kittens running around and staff paying more attention to them than clients.
The second incident that occurred happened after I had my hair washed. I was left sitting in a chair waiting whilst John who is my hairdresser casually took his time looking at another client's holiday photos. That wasted at least 5 minutes. (Some people may not be bothered about having their time wasted, but unfortunately for John, I wasn't one of them).
When he finally comes over, instead of asking me how am I going, or commenting about condition of my hair, he proceeds to tell me all details about his life (as he usually does) and is so focussed on himself he was oblivious to fact that without people like me (a paying client), he wouldn't be in business.
It doesn't end there. The final straw came when his mobile phone rang in middle of my haircut. With no apology or saying to me "excuse me, I must take this call ", he answers phone and wanders off for another 5 minutes.