In my travels, I get the honor of speaking to successful owners and executives from throughout the country. I often ask them questions relating to how they achieved success. I enjoy listening as the initial conversation follows a typical archetypal path of hardship, revelation and windfall.
Eventually, if I dig deep enough I reach the "tranquil pause."
Eventually, if I dig deep enough I reach a "tranquil pause." That slight hesitation in the conversation where profit gives way to the purpose. The entire body language changes as they reflect on how relationships ultimately made it all worth the journey. Dropping the rough exterior they begin to tell me stories about the "good old days." "You know Dale's been with me over 30 years." "I've done business with Scott since the seventies. Our kids are graduating together this year." "Our customer service girl, Susan is the daughter of our first blueline operator."
No matter how fancy the product, it always comes down to the long-term relationship. I hope someday I can share my own "tranquil pause."