>Make it Better Because You are There in 2011
>There is no secret that the economy is ‘challenging’ with a high unemployment rate, businesses closing, lower real estate values and the myriad of things that come along with a recession. What makes the difference between success and failure is how each of us perceives these challenges. Every day we awake with the choice to accomplish something, improve our environment, assist someone else or waste the opportunities of the day unhappy about a situation, person or other item outside of our personal control.
I have always shared with friends, family, co-workers and customers that my key philosophy in life and business is to “Make it better because you are there”. The poor economy affected our business with 26 long time customers closing their doors in the past two years. Rather than being upset about a bad economy our company choose to enact our very own ‘Stimulus Program’ for customers who are struggling where we invest in our CUSTOMER by paying for all or part of their website hosting, online marketing, support and updates to help them retain the # 1 most effective marketing tool they have (their website and online marketing). In addition to customers who we know are struggling the Internet Marketing & Social Marketing Teams are doing extra marketing for ALL customers to ensure those who are healthy remain healthy (without charging for the work). I doubt most of our customers are even aware what we are doing for them because it is an internal directive to help so we have not informed most of them!
We can make a difference and help the companies who helped us grow by INVESTING in them rather than participating in the recession by turning off their primary lifeline to new business online. It costs more in the short term to pay for services out of our pocket but I believe in the long term it is a wise investment for everyone. Somewhere in the past 50 years companies pulled away from loyalty or doing what was right to focus on doing what was best for the bottom line. When times are tough and money is tight it is hard for some to imagine doing anything to help themselves much less help others but those are the times it is the most important. No matter how bad our situations may be there is ALWAYS someone in a worse situation who will make the choice today to improve themselves or their lives.
There are opportunities every day if you are willing to make the paradigm shift from ‘things suck’ to ‘lets make things better’. Spend time to contact customers who are late on bills and ask “What can we do to assist?” instead of demanding payment or disconnecting their services. Reduce bills at work and home then reinvest that money in your customers and with the people who need help more than we do. If you have a warm home, a vehicle and a job than be thankful for that and help someone else who does not. Internet Builder Consulting created intern programs for unemployed single mother or fathers with children to support so that while they look for employment they are in the business environment learning new marketable skills and making some money to buy food. No matter how small or large the effort simply get up each day committed to improve, assist or learn something new. Refuse to participate in the recession, never let negative or depressing thoughts lead your actions or attitude and always try to make it better because you are there.
Robert ‘Dot Com’ Jackson
Internet & Technology Expert
Internet Builder Consulting – Building BETTER Websites, Social Marketing & Internet Solutions since 1995
816-842-7774 Office
If you need some ideas consider movies such as It’s a Wonderful Life or Pay it Forward illustrate simple life lessons about helping others in need and making it better because you are there.
