Most of us have a vision for our business that is far grander than the current reality. But the scope of work required to realize that vision can be immobilizing. It’s hard to know where to start and what to do next. Employees and customers are often threatened by drastic changes. And if you take on too much, too fast and fail to deliver, then your efforts may backfire.
Small changes are more manageable, give you time to perfect each step before moving on, and allow you to stay flexible.
Your customer’s needs will change and your vision for the business will change, so don’t plan your one percent too far in advance. Reevaluate the next improvement each week. By taking one step at a time, you are able to respond to changing conditions and you avoid being locked in to a stale vision.
If you improve by just one percent each week, your business will be 50% better after a year.
Raving Fans: A Revolutionary Approach To Customer Service by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles is a light-hearted parable that carries a surprising punch. Create a strong and specific vision, listen to your customers but don’t try to please everyone, consistently deliver on your promises through the use of systems, and improve a little each day. Although these core messages are all simple enough, I found myself inspired with a flow of new ideas that started at the halfway point and lasted long after I put the book down.
