When The Words Lose Their Meaning And The Meaning Loses Its Words
Thursday, December 6th, 2007 by Mark | Posted in Business, Entrepreneur, Management, Small Business, Unconventional Thinking | Comments
We are deep in the midst of the holiday season and a lovely time of year it can be.
But I have a question: Isn’t every day a holy day? Do holy days have a season or is life a string of holy days?
Actually, I firmly believe the latter is true. Is there ever a day of our lives that is not a wonder? That we are not blessed by God in the most extraordinary way?
The problem is, so many of our words have lost their meaning. Holidays are no longer thought of as holy days. They are viewed as turkey days and gift buying days. And that is the polar opposite of the original purpose and the true meaning embedded in the words.
This is endemic throughout our society. What do the words trust, faith, love, honor, commitment really mean? Timeless and enduring qualities, of course, but when these words are used without thought, when the holy is buried in holiday, when the thanks in Thanksgiving is simply six letters tacked on to six more, we lose something so rich and deep that can make all of life that more precious.
We lose the honesty that makes things genuine. And by “things,” I mean relationships… The bonds between family members, friends and lovers. Unless these unions are knitted together with words and actions ripe with true meaning, they are mere pretenses. Hollow games people play to try and camouflage the truth. But the truth insists on revealing itself.
All of this is true in business as it is in the ways of the heart. Do we tell our clients and customers we care about them and then treat them as just another set of numbers locked in a server? The answer is almost a universal “yes.” So much so that when a company, a manager, an entrepreneur is determined to treat the people in their world with genuine care, with words that have meaning, then we witness right before our eyes that the holy is the beacon in holiday and we are astounded by it.
It is a mistake to think we live in Balkanized worlds: the personal, the business, the religious. The walls we often think clearly divide these realms are mythical.
When we purchase something from an automobile company or a pharmacy, we no longer believe we are initiating a relationship. We think we are buying something…engaging in a cold and common transaction. So when a company or a pharmacy gives back more than a product but a set of human values along with it, we are touched in a way that makes us customers for life. The business, like the lover, like the friend, that demonstrates that the bonds that bind are true and generous and genuine, are of immense value to all of us. We hold them far above the heads of the pretenders.
There is but one world. The same one where the personal, the business and the religious intersect. This is the crossroads of greatness. Not marked by physical strength or wealth or intellectual power, but more by being the kind of person, the kind of business, that adds meaning to our existence. Do you value anything more? Is there a greater goal?
Happy holy days. Everyday.
Mark Stevens
CEO
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December 6th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
The greater goal is to be obedient to God’s call on my life – whatever it may be. To answer that call with faith, joy, and a confidence in the outcome because HE has called me to it as a wife, mother, and entrepreneur.
December 7th, 2007 at 10:59 am
To me it is more important to consider your customers as clients 360 times a year not just for holidays or special events. To send them thinking of you cards and leaving your name and number or an aniversary card for their years of patronage , or even a call just to ask how they are doing shows them that you really care about THEM and not just for the fact that they are using your service. Customer service requires a degree of friendship with the clients making THEM feel just how important they really are to your success!!
NOW WE ARE TALKING LONGETIVITY!!!
December 27th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Being in the retail and service business for 12 years, you see both sides of Holy Days. Customers “Guests” sometimes leave a bad taste in your mouth with their attitudes and how they handle themselves. I am of the adage “Kill them with kindness” but some days that is very difficult. I have recently moved out of that industry. I know am able to enjoy the Holy Day Season again. Sad but true. I agree with Ruthy, you need to separate yourself from the competition, and there is no better way than customer service!
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