Relationships & Integrity

Being in the construction industry for over 10 years gives you ample time to learn many things. You learn about products, competitors, market share, customer needs, economic conditions, and so on. You get to know the people you work with both internally and your client base, but do you REALLY get to know them and do they REALLY know you? Living in a small community i have learned that many things are different. There are many people vying for the business you are hoping to secure. most of the time price, availability and delivery are determining factors in decisions to do business. So what about the relationship? Can you do business without it? Can you serve your customers just by being good, communicating, delivering as expected, problem solving? I say you can. I also say that you can secure business long term, eliminate some factors that could be considered like price and product all by having a relationship. Relationships are key to understanding that there is more than a transaction between two people or two corporations. Sales support the lively hood of companies and individuals. By selling you have earned your salary, by buying, your customer is on his way to earning his. It's a win win. 

So where does the relationship come in? How about the integrity? 

When you have a relationship with someone or with a company, it's about more than just the transaction. It's about looking out for one another and understanding that there is a level of respect and appreciation on both parts. I care about my client and he cares about me. Furthermore, our relationship will make me want to help them when the opportunity arises, a referral perhaps, or maybe getting them to do work for you personally.

Relationships are personal as is integrity. You stand up for what you do, how you do it, why you do it. You look out for one another, you share information that will help the other without a motive. You build trust, you learn about each other and about how you can better serve. It's not about becoming friends and socializing although not a bad thing. It's about the business relationship with a personal touch. Earning trust, building relationships and having integrity will help you grow your business and help your business grow. Trust and integrity are like great soil to a gardener. The relationship will grow over time but it takes hard work and great ingredients