Consider this: Have you ever met a grumpy, grateful person? Those two rarely seem to coincide simultaneously, do they? Think about it. Have you, yourself, ever been genuinely grateful – and unhappy at once? I doubt it!
Thanksgiving is on the horizon here in the next couple of weeks already and many of us use this season as a time of reflection – as well we should!
In fact, I know for certain that if you choose to do so, you will see your sales increase as a result.
So, what could the connection be between sales and Thanksgiving? Other than the possible upcoming busy season for retailers, the connection is really quite simple! See, gratitude is the key to successful networking and relationship building!
How so?
Well, first, it’s important to fully understand what sales really is. Too many people still view sales as some Ponzi scheme where the “slick salesman” tries to trick unsuspecting innocents from giving him their money. The reality is that sales is all about genuine service. We serve our clients by selling to them. As I say, you and your business are the answer to someone’s prayers!
Now watch. When we are intentional about sales as service to our clients, this makes us genuinely grateful for them.
Which, in turn, facilitates a relationship with our clients based on mutual respect and gratitude. And I ask you: Is there any better way to do business, network, build relationships, or to guarantee repeat business than to have a genuine quality connection with a client?
Think of it this way. Have you ever purchased from someone who was genuinely willing to help you, and who was truly grateful for the time they got to spend with you? You want back to see them, didn’t you? And you likely referred a friend!
Dale Carnegie says in How To Win Friends And Influence People that everyone wants to feel genuinely appreciated. Seems obvious, doesn’t it? Isn’t the best way to make someone feel appreciated to express gratitude for them and for your connection with them?
Now, what we think about is what we manifest. And when we think about and emit gratitude, the same will come back to us! You find that your clients will be as grateful for you as you are for them!
I find that gratitude needs to be intentional for most people. Google tells us that we are exposed to over 5,000 ads every day. Let that sink in for a minute. Consider how that may affect your ability to facilitate gratitude in your business – and in your life! We live in a society that constantly tells us to be dissatisfied until we have the next big thing, would you agree?
Now, advertising is a great business – and an important one! But the world we live in has no built-in opportunities for rest, margin, or downtime. So, we create it – intentionally.
So what are you grateful for in your business? Are you grateful for:
- Your clients?
- Your staff?
- Your facility?
- Your hours?
- The success you’ve enjoyed so far?
- How much you’ve learned along the way?
Sit with that! Reflect on it! Now doesn’t that bring some refreshing perspective?
As for me, I am grateful for so many things:
- I am grateful that I get to regularly work with successful entrepreneurs.
- I am grateful for my team that helps keep this business going strong.
- I am grateful for my family’s unending support of my passions.
- I am grateful that I get to work a business that feels like fun to me!
- I am grateful for my strengths and weaknesses, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the people I get to work with – because it makes us a powerhouse!
- Most importantly: I am grateful for you. Yes – I mean that!
Enjoy your holiday season. Spend your time intentionally finding ways and reasons to be thankful. You’ll see benefits extend much further than you may have anticipated!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
