GarthBox

Great harm is done when we alienate a story people want to tell themselves.

If we removed tipping in America, we remove the stories people tell themselves about status, about gifting, about intrinsically feeling good. (We tip 20% because it’s worth 25% to us.)

When we support bars that have automatic dispensers with a pay-as-you-go system and only one staff member to check IDs at the door, we eliminate the stories people tell themselves about connection, about having a place to vent to someone willing to listen, about being part of a community.

We have to be careful what we remove in the effort to become remarkable. Doing so can alienate a lot of stories and, by extension, a lot of customers.

Better to err on the side of allowing people to have more stories to tell. To curate an experience that can benefit the status seekers, community seekers, and the philanthropic seekers.

Any change in the number of stories you help people tell, whether + or -, can make the news, but no one likes to only tell themselves one story.

One story is quickly forgotten. More stories, carefully designed, is better.

Stay Positive & What Stories Are Your Customers Telling Themselves?

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The waitress was patient. She explained the process and let us know that it was flexible. Whatever we wanted, she’ll make it work and, to our amazement, she still found a way to surprise and delight us.

The agent was prepared. He was comfortable with the set of tools available, but knew how to work around them to satisfy any unique request. He put himself in our shoes instead of asking us to get into his.

The shop owner was present. She hung around and found ways to make the experience a remarkable one for everyone who entered her door. She listened to what people said to one another while she worked from her computer rather than hunkering down and zoning out in the small office space in the back.

Sweat equity doesn’t always involve actual sweat. It’s not always about the physical labor. More often than not, it’s about the emotional labor.

The emotional labor of showing up, listening, being flexible, caring, preparing, surprising and delighting, educating, being patient and curious, putting the person in front of you first … and so much more.

It’s a lot. It’s tough. It’s also very much worth it.

Stay Positive & Keep Contributing

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You can estimate what your return on investment will be.

You can decide early on what you hope to get out of the work you do.

You can tell shareholders what they can expect to get in the end.

The reality is an investment doesn’t guarantee a return, and certainly not one on the timeline you want.

The question, then, is what will you do when the reality hits?

Shut it down or keep giving, caring and investing?

Stay Positive & The Return Is On Its Own Timeline

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Excitement is attractive.

In many relationships and partnerships, it’s vital.

So, it blows my mind whenever I meet with a vendor or contractor or freelancer and they don’t show an inch of excitement for the project.

(Fake excitement would be better than none at all. At least faking it would lead to making it.)

In a world where the race to the bottom is so easy to win, where you can find a dozen other people and organizations that do the same job–showing excitement, care and passion has become the differentiator.

The best part?

People will pay more for it.

Stay Positive & Keep Showing Up

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Those who will make a difference aren’t knocking on every door they walk by.

You have to go to ridiculous lengths to find them.

And even further lengths to keep them.

Simply put, to attract a linchpin you have to recruit like one.

Don’t expect to recruit someone who will make a difference by reaching out the same way everyone else does, by paying what everyone else does, by offering what everyone else does.

Stay Positive & The Result Changes When The Approach Does

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It’s scary to do, but essential to do out of the gate (better yet, before the gate opens).

What will you do when your brand starts to grow? What happens with the profit? Who benefits?

Planning for the bad, the struggle and all the challenges is worth doing. So is planning for the success, the unexpected growth and the fueled tribe of followers you’ll attract.

When you wait too long to state what you’re after in the long haul, others will begin to state what you’re after for you (and unless you’ve built a passionate tribe before launch, it isn’t often a positive assessment).

Will you direct your excess to the investors? To the merchants on your street? To employees? To the community who has followed you? To the community you’re surrounded by? To those who show up? To those who don’t?

If you’re clear about where you’re going early on, it’s easier for people to get on board.

 

Stay Positive & The Age Of Non-Accountability Is Over

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If you look for the bad in a situation, you’re sure to find it.

Often times, we even make it up when it’s not there because we feel better (and our minds reward us) when we are right more than when we are wrong.

If you’re going to go searching, search for the good.

 

Stay Positive & Awareness Is The Simplest Place To Start

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