We've all heard that ditty and have probably
said it to ourselves a time or two. But when it comes to business,
it's something that you should try not to say any more
than is absolutely necessary. Being late can have unfavorable
repercussions ... not only for you but for your customers
as well.
How often have you had to wait 30 minutes or
more to see your doctor? Have you ever been told by a contractor
or a repair person that they would be at your home at a certain
time and they never showed? Have you ever been assured that
a particular job would be finished in one week but two weeks
later, it still wasn't done?
I think I can safely say that we've all been
in a position where someone has failed to "deliver the
goods" according to schedule. Sometimes it merely creates
an inconvenience, but many times, it can disrupt an entire
business! Even worse, it can often create a domino effect
where others also suffer the consequences.
When you make an appointment to be somewhere
at a certain time, or you commit to meet a deadline, or you
promise to ship a product by a certain date, you're putting
your credibility on the line. Your customers expect you to
keep your word. They trust you to follow through on whatever
action you have promised.
There's no denying that unforeseen events can
occur over which you have no control. Life just doesn't operate
as orderly as we would like. But oftentimes, the reason people
don't follow through on their word has more to do with a lack
of personal planning that it does with unpredictable happenings.
Promptness leads to prosperity and success in
your business. When customers know they can depend on you,
they're going to use your services again -- and they're going
to tell others about you because they know you'll do what
you say.
In these times when competition is fierce, it
behooves us to do whatever it takes to stand out from the
crowd. And one of the things that will set you apart is to keep your promises and not be late for that
very important date.
Nan Yielding has nearly 10 years experience as an online business owner. She is the owner of Writing-Etc.com and offers internet marketing services and assistance to help website owners attract more customers and increase sales.
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