A pretty smart guy reminded me recently of
reason we're in business. He said it's to "create customers."I thought about that and decided I had to agree.
Our businesses exist for a reason. I use to think reason was to make widgets (insert your product or service here). But our customer needs to come first because a warehouse full of widgets does not a business make. However, add a line of several hundred people at that warehouse with money in hand eager to buy those widgets, now you have a business!
So, to really make your business work, put your customer first. Create them by first discovering who they are and then by giving them what they want.
I'm no more skilled at this than anyone but since I run a small business I have found best way to do this is to simply ask questions. Have conversations with your customers (past, present and future). Ask them why they do business with you or your competition. Find out what they really want from companies like yours. Learn what causes them pain and pleasure. Be truly interested in them.
