Do you attempt to persuade others to do your work for you? Do you expect them to perform for you? Seriously, do you?
I work with several organizations that basically provide the same service for a commissionable fee — and they provide their service to several others in the same profession that I’m in. While I’m certain they encounter varying degrees of support from people like me, I can attest that I encounter varying degrees of service from each of them as well. But there’s this ONE organization in particular…
Every single time I connect with this organization I am confronted with a bajillion hoops that I am asked (and expected) to jump through. I provide the same information time and time again — and it’s all information they should either already have, or could compile themselves with a click of their mouse. The time-consuming dance happens every single time that I do business with this one organization, but it RARELY EVER happens when I work with every single other organization in that industry that I do business with. Why?
I don’t know why. I do know this organization is struggling — even more so than others in the same industry during these challenging economic times. I do know that every single thing I provide upon request could be archived and updated periodically (requiring much less work on everyone’s part, leaving more time to actually do what produces income). And most importantly, I know that I don’t want to be like them.
Do you take time to look something up before asking for help? (Have you heard of Google?) Do you check things out on your own before you waste other people’s time doing things you’re capable of doing/knowing/finding out yourself?
The impact you have on those with whom you do business (and those who choose to do business with you or your organization) has nothing to do with your job title, status or position in the food chain. It has everything to do with the decisions you make and the actions you take.
And yes, it is snowing…
