On working in the people business

August 27, 2007 3:40 PM

It doesn’t matter what you sell.
It doesn’t matter what you create.
It doesn’t matter what your job title says.
It doesn’t matter what service you provide.

You work in the People Business.

As such, it’s important to remember several things:

1. People buy people first.

2. People like to do business with their friends.

3. People don’t trust companies; they trust people.

4. People aren’t loyal to companies, they’re loyal to people.

5. People only do business with you for three reasons: they’ve heard you, they’ve heard OF you, or someone they TRUST has heard of you,

6. When people like each other, the rules change. (Jim Henderson)

7. The only thing people can judge you on: how engaging with you makes them feel. (Seth Godin)

8. The more we meet and interact with people, the more likely we are to become friends with them.

9. People either check you on or check you off.

10. The more shopper-employee contacts that take place, the greater the average sale. (Paco Underhill)

11. People don’t give to causes; they give to people.

12. People don’t want to hire consultants, speakers, trainers or recruiters. They want to hire smart, cool people who happen to consult. Or speak. Or train. Or recruit. Or whatever. So be smarter and cooler.

13. Which means: lead with your person; follow with your profession. Values before vocation. Individuality before industry. Humanity before statistics. Personality before position.

14. AND REMEMBER: if they like you as a person, they MIGHT hire you. But if they don’t like you as a person, they DEFINITELY won’t hire you.

And last but not least, the summation of the first 14 points:

15. Friendly always wins.

So…

It doesn’t matter what you sell.
It doesn’t matter what you create.
It doesn’t matter what your job title says.
It doesn’t matter what service you provide.

You work in the People Business.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
How long have you been working in the People Business?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Share your additional thoughts on the nature of this “industry.”

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag

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