Be a Real Partner

Business used to be much simpler. The formula for success was to provide value, convenience, and great customer service, which in turn led to referrals that became new clients. This tried and true cycle kept the business world moving forward.

Somewhere along the way, however, the rules seem to have changed, and the apple cart has been upset. To win business today, you must provide more than value and customer service. Change is an inevitable part of life and must be dealt with. Change can lead to transformations in which we are active and willing participants, or change can occur despite our best efforts to stop it. In these cases, the outcomes are not necessarily in our power. An important part of transformation and evolution is to learn from the past. This is a great time to review the past year and make decisions about changes that need to be made for a successful new year. Reflections On the Past Year Was 2012 a success for you? If not, where did things go wrong? -- Did you have enough sales opportunities? -- Were you presenting the right solutions for your prospects? -- Did you learn enough about your clients and their needs in order to implement the right solutions for your clients? There are no right answers here, just honest introspection. Resolutions For the New Year To make changes for a successful 2013: -- Know what goals your clients have for their businesses. -- Help them achieve their goals with the solutions you have to offer. To be as successful as you would like to be in the new year, you need to accomplish one important task: look for ways to make your clients achieve their goals. When you can do that, you have aligned their goals with yours. You have become a true partner in their success. This can go a long way in making your new year the best ever.