Will You Be My Valentine?

By David Prange

Thanks to Valentine’s Day we all think of February as the month of love. However, do you know that love is the answer to your success in business? That the transformative power of love can make you more money, fewer headaches and happier customers? I am here to share the message of love, so please join me on the love train as it travels through your business station by station. First stop is the most important, your employees.

Since your employees are in charge of the customer relationship, they come first. If they aren’t feeling the love, that feeling is going to be transferred to the customer, costing you business. Are you catching them doing good work? Are you taking notice of all the things they do right every day? We are all hungry for positive attention; it doesn’t cost anything and recognition is a powerful motivator. Show you care by giving them the menu, tools and training to be more successful for you.

Next stop is the second most important person in your business, your customers. One way to show your love is with “hugs.” Hugs are simply compliments about their vehicle that make them feel special. These must be given during the greeting; be sincere and tell the customer something about them that is special. Customers will frequent those businesses that make them feel good.

The next station — the place where all these customers live, the community. How can you share the love with them? Charity events and preventive maintenance training seminars to different community groups are just a couple of ways to reach out. Twitter and Facebook involvement can make an impact. A Wall of Fame that features customers with high-mileage vehicles also reinforces what you can do for them.

Now let’s stop at a strange and unusual place — let’s share some love with your vendors. Your vendors need you to be successful in order to be successful themselves. They often travel a large geographic area and may have heard the answer to a challenge you are trying to solve. Challenge them to share ideas to build your business. Make them involved in achieving your different goals. They have ideas that can help if you give them the time and make them a part of your plans. If they don’t, get some new ones.

Finally, at the end of the line, let’s make sure you share some love with yourself. You are important to your customers, vendors, employees and the country. You keep customers’ vehicles running more efficiently and longer, saving them big money when they need it most. You provide your vendors an important outlet for their goods and services, providing needed jobs. You also provide direct employment. This country needs more of you, not less.

Show yourself and your key people some love by taking them to Las Vegas, Nevada, this spring for the International Fast Lube Expo in April. Not only will they get the recognition such a trip can provide, but you will get a better trained and productive employee when you get home.

My team and I will also be doing the full version of The Great American Fast Lube Training Roadshow, including All You Need Is Love 2k10. We’d love to see you there!

DAVID PRANGE is with ITW/QMI, suppliers of Full Throttle and Heartland products to the fast lube industry. He is available for training on a wide variety of topics and can be reached at 800.378.7891 or: daveprange@aol.com

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