Business Is Just A Big Game….. Or Is It?
By: Sandi Krakowski
We’ve all heard the saying, “Business is just a game, break the rules and you’ll win!”
Or maybe this one resonates more with you, “Business is just a numbers game, get enough numbers into your game and you’ll get more in your bank account.”
When we built our first business life was my teacher, the integrity that we lived daily was how our customer service department was built. We didn’t cut corners, operate without ethics or serve ourselves to build a $ 4 million dollar company. Our customers always were and always will be our focus.
Are you building a customer focused business or are you simply working to make money?
A customer centric company creates a mission statement with core values that are upheld in all areas of the business operations. It is these core values that make it possible to create the best products, have the best practices and create insane results in your business!
These core values dictate what businesses will be partnered with, how business is conducted in all situations and what the primary focus is within the company and amongst its team members.
You can view the mission statement of A Real Change International by clicking here. Our focus is to help people create an extraordinary life, business and income with ordinary tools, both online and offline. Our purpose is to serve our customers with excellence and to uphold our core values every single day.
This mission statement has caused me to seek out the best staff and team members. It's also required that I fire a few people. Our mission statement has caused me to turn down millions of dollars in the last 8 months from those seeking to ‘do business’ and gain "private exclusive rights" on some of our products. It has motivated me to work with only the best mentors and partners we could find.
The notion that a business is a game indicates that one doesn’t have very many core values. The business becomes a mere pursuit of money. Chasing money as a goal for building a business is a very hard process. Go collect unemployment! It will be much easier.
But seeking to serve and be the best you can be, with your service to your customers, gives your business a higher purpose that will propel all that you do forward!
Don’t get me wrong…. Before you think I don’t enjoy the challenge of business, the desire to grow big and profit wildly, I do, I absolutely love it! But the thing that gets me up in the morning, causes me to keep my heart, mind and spirit in alignment with the core values that God planted in me a long time ago, goes far beyond closing another sale and making money. It is 100% geared around the desire to improve the quality of life, business and income of our customers.
Years ago I heard people in network marketing and direct sales say that anyone who could fog a mirror was a potential prospect. This made me feel slimy and unethical. Knowing that not everyone was qualified to work with me or would even want our products, I rejected such a philosophy. Rather, our focus was on serving those who were our ideal prospects better than our competitors, adding core values that made it easy to do business. This has always profited my companies handsomely!
What is a customer-centric company anyway?
A company that is focused on serving the customer first, is a customer-centric organization. They are aware of what the competition is doing. They are mindful of what other leaders are doing in the marketplace. And….They don't seek loopholes to get into niches where they have no skill or track record.
When your customers become your primary focus you are very careful what you’ll position yourself as an expert in. It would be contrary to your core values to position yourself as one with expertise in something you have very little experience in. This is why a mission statement is so critical. It’s about more than money, and honestly, will give you a slight edge that will triple your profits if you do it right.
These governing principles must align with our core values and help us in making sure we are giving our best at all times to our customers.
So what makes this belief that ‘business is just a game’ so wrong?
It’s only focus is how can I win and many times, sadly, it will cut any corner it can to win. It doesn’t consider the long-term goal of business building and is typically only looking at numbers. Quality of life in the business, healthy relationships amongst the staff, a great reputation in the marketplace, is not typically a driving factor.
So…..Where are you when it comes to your goals for business?
Is the bottom line your only focus? A business built with the sole purpose of making money is a business that will either never reach its goals or implode as soon as it gets there.
Build a business with a mission statement in place.
Uphold that mission statement when making decisions for your company.
Refer to this mission statement when hiring and firing.
Remind yourself of this mission statement when choosing JV partners, sharing your list and choosing your mentors.
A customer-centric company will be the happiest most profitable business you’ve ever built!
Thank YOU for being a part of ours. 
