The Summertime Success Path

In my neck of the woods, it's suddenly gotten sweltering hot. 

Our pool heater tried to kill us at just the right time as we don't need it right now, and there seems to be a North America-wide shortage on pool heaters. 

I've heard the shortage is also true in boats, sea-doos, cottages, Corvettes, and more. It seems with no real travel, and people are looking to buy summer toys.

My wife Heather and I were reminiscing in the heat about how we missed California. 

Last summer, Heather and I were fortunate to visit one of my clients in Napa Valley and then make a second California trip to Santa Barbara a few weeks later. 

With the borders closed and travel reduced a minimum, I'm not exactly sure when I'll start traveling again, but that's okay.

As of today, I'm working with clients from places all over the globe, including Toronto, Chicago, Atlanta, California, New Zealand, and more. In many ways, I'm seeing more of many of my clients in a remote environment, and many sales teams have said they've never worked so closely together.

As we sat in the heat, I tried to recognize some of the key lessons I've seen in my most successful clients. 

I thought those were worth sharing today.

Know Your Clients

Just like your business is changing, so are your clients and customers. 

They're like moving targets, so know them and be aware of how they're changing with the times. 

Be flexible and adapt with them and meet their needs.

But now, more than ever is a great time to know them even better, stay in touch, and continue to offer value.

Know Your Business

More than ever, it's essential to know the business you are in and the business you're not in. 

Right now, it's easy to get distracted or pulled off course. 

Not every opportunity is YOUR opportunity. Be mindful of the lost opportunity cost to your core business when you're pulled in the wrong direction. 

Many of my clients have done an excellent job staying focused on their core competencies, only pivoting or adding new product or service offerings when necessary. Those that have done so are seeing great success.

Know Your Competitors

While it's important to know your business, it's also important to be mindful of your competition. 

With businesses pivoting or launching new products and services, it's essential to keep your eyes open and ears tuned to your key competitors are doing (and saying). 

Or vice-versa, can you recognize they're not doing?

Know Your Needs

Some of my clients have engaged in fantastic new strategic partnerships.

The key is to engage in partnerships with strategic value to both companies. There's not much value in partnering with someone just like you.

Who could compliment you now more than ever? Who has clients that you could benefit from reaching? What value could you offer to them?

###

As we continue to make our way through this pandemic, I want to remind you that we WILL recover. 

We will come out of the other side of this, and we see some return to a "new" normal.

Your key question or challenge this week is to ask yourself if you'll be the same company or if you'll be better than you were before?

Best,

Noah

P.S. For a more tactical approach, check out the Tuesday Tidbit video posted over a year ago. Everything in that Tidbit will help you accomplish some of the steps and lessons I've shared above.