Excellence in Action: Implementing ‘First Class Business with First Class People’ for Sustainable Success

Written by: Dr. Michael Hirt

What does “first class business with first class people” mean in concrete terms and how do you put it into practice? It’s about setting high standards for the business you do and the people you do it with.

Of course, as a starting point, you have to take yourself by the nose and make sure your own services and products are “first class” and, of course, your own behavior.

Then it’s about living and radiating this philosophy in your public image, in your market communication, in sales and in every contact with other people, so that other people who are aligned in the same way become aware of you, find you attractive and ideally actively get in touch with you.

What is it about in detail?

First class business

• High value creation for the customer
• Profitable for everyone involved
• Win-win relationships
• Dealing at eye level
• Fair dealings with each other
• Live and let live
• Long-term, reliable cooperation
• Positive contribution to customers and the planet
• Joint growth and development
• Proactive and open communication

First class people

• Entrepreneurial
• Results-oriented
• Focus on joint value creation and opportunities
• Pragmatic and action-oriented
• Courageous
• Morally integer
• Handshake quality
• Reliable
• Fast response times
• Honest
• Long-term orientation
• Relationship orientation

“First class business with first class people” embodies a commitment to excellence in both business operations and interpersonal relationships. For entrepreneurs, this mentality is crucial as it sets the foundation for sustainable success and positive impact.

Entrepreneurs can utilize this mentality by:

1. Setting high standards: Establishing high-quality products/services and ensuring integrity in business dealings.
2. Living the philosophy: Demonstrating excellence in all interactions, from public image to customer communication.
3. Creating value: Prioritizing customer satisfaction and fostering win-win relationships.
4. Maintaining integrity: Upholding ethical standards and fairness in all dealings.
5. Fostering growth: Embracing proactive communication and long-term collaboration for mutual development.

To embody this mentality, entrepreneurs should integrate these principles into their business strategies, operations, and personal conduct. This involves consistently delivering high-quality products/services, maintaining ethical standards, fostering positive relationships, and continuously striving for improvement.

By embodying “first class business with first class people,” entrepreneurs can build a reputation for excellence and attract like-minded partners, customers, and opportunities.

Our lifetime is limited and precious, we should strive for the highest in ourselves and those we work with.

About the Author

Dr. Michael Hirt has trained and coached executives, managers, and salespeople throughout the world in the art of negotiating. As a ghost negotiator he advises and accompanies his clients in difficult negotiations.

He brings a wealth of 30 years of experience from different roles and many negotiations: investment banking transactions, mergers & acquisitions, commercial contract negotiations, B2B-sales, proposals and contract negotiations with principals, lawyers, internal legal departments and purchasing departments.

He masters both high concept negotiating approaches and street level tactics. He has first class law degrees from Vienna University (Austria) and McGill University (Canada), graduated from INSEAD with an MBA “with distinction” and attended the Harvard Business School (LPSF).