Nice Guys Finish First: Winning Customers for Life by Winning Relationship that Last
Although the focus of this book is on building business and growing lifelong customers, I found the “system” applicable in navigating life. Author Doug Sandler is touted as ‘Mr. Nice Guy,’ and it’s obvious that he has a knack for seeing the good in others and fervently believing that philosophy is the ultimate success strategy. To be clear, this is a success book, one that leaders and career professionals should read. Why? It focuses on the human element that underlies everything in business and is too often ignored these days.
The nugget about his mother impressed upon since youth to be nice, turned out to be priceless wisdom. He soon discovered that not only do others respond positively to kindness, he, and subsequently all of us, profit from being nice. It elevates business and also emotional currency. When you’re geniounly nice to someone you feel different. Better. But being nice to others starts with learning to nice to yourself. That the key to true happiness.
The story isn’t filled with rainbows and sunshine and void of setbacks.
In fact, one of his big fails was his lightbulb moment. He realized that the moment he shortcut the customer, or in this case blatlently ignored their needs which resulted in him getting ‘booted out of town’ was his aha moment. Shifting his approach to focusing on customers, changed everything including launching his success story.
I especially enjoyed the section on systems.
As he slowly uncovered the benefits of being nice, he realized he had the makings of a time-tested customer service plan that inspires and helps customers achieve their goals. By putting the ‘service’ back into customer service, he opened the profit vault. When I was in business I learned this the hard way. Systems are key. So it’s not ‘cold’ to systematize nice, especially if you want to train your brain to the habit and teach others to do the same. He details in various chapters how being nice builds trust, inspires teamwork, creates a culture of happiness, builds invaluable leaders, and inspires success.
This book is a must-read for all entrepreanurs, leaders, and everyone working directly internal and external customers.
Source: Purchased
Image Courtesy of Midpoint Trade Books
