Everything impacts

Speaking of expectations – as I was below – I’ve noticed something over the past couple of days.

On Friday I went for a 7 kilometre run. Laura, my 13 yo daughter, ran with me. The only time Laura runs regularly is when she runs with me.

Today I went for a 2 km swim. Jack, my 12 yo son, swam with me. Again, the only time he swims for fitness is with me.

Tonight – Saturday night here in Australia – I brought out an old sketching pad and started doing a few drawings. Within minutes Harry, my 10 yo son, was on the floor doing some colouring in.

All of us – me and you – influence others. Others take their cues from us. I’ve seen the same thing applied in business time after time.

It’s branding

It’s branding. Everything we do in business brands us in some way. Every interaction with our customer/client or prospect impacts on the way they perceive us – from our handshake, to our business card quality, to our logo, to what we wear, to how we speak…….absolutely everything.

If you want you kids to run and swim, then you run and swim. It will take about 2 days before they want to join in.

Want people to view your business as quality – then have a firm handshake, get great business cards, develop a professional logo, dress beautifully, speak nicely…..you get the picture.

What we do matters. Do the things, in business, that put your business where you want it to be.

“You look professional”

I live on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It’s a sub-tropical climate which means people don’t generally wear business suits.

But one day, a few years back, I did. I visited a client whilst wearing this suit and he seemed most impressed:

“You look professional,” he said.

It was meant as a compliment. Which was nice.

But what was left unsaid was the assumption that he didn’t think I usually looked professional. Which was a good bit of feedback to get.

Try that – dress in your best suit/most professional attire and see what sort of impact it makes. I’ll guarantee people will treat you differently.

But if you are happy with exactly where your business is at the moment don’t change a thing.

Make some changes if that’s what you want

Keep doing the same thing and you’ll get the same results.

If you want change, change.