Only one of them wanted the job


Hello Reader,

We're buying a house in San Diego, and we're handling it from a distance. So this week three contractors went to look at it for us. Only one acted like he wanted the job.

That one moved his whole day around to be there for the inspection. He took his measurements, talked us through the work, and had a follow-up in my inbox by that evening. I could see from him that our business meant something to him.

The other two? One went quiet, five days now and still no quote. The other never even wrote back.

I was ready to say yes and hand somebody my money. Two of them made me work for the chance and the one that didn't is getting the job.

It's just like this in our business. And it got me asking myself, how easy am I making it for people to do business with me?

Let me be clear, I'm not perfect with this. Somewhere along the way I've surely made a customer wait on me, or lost one and never even known it. None of us are immune.

Most of the time it's something small, one moment where a person had to chase you or gave up trying. Maybe a quote that never went out, or a cancel button nobody could find.

You don't have to fix all of it. Just pick the one moment that's costing you the most, and work to fix it.

That's where good operations, and sometimes a little AI, can carry the load for you.

So this week, be your own customer. Buy something from yourself, ask for help, and see how easy, or how hard, you've made it.

Whatever makes you sigh is the first thing to fix.

If you want the whole story, contractors and all, the full post is on my blog.

What's the one spot in your business where people have to chase you? Hit reply and tell me. I'd love to hear it.

Shell, Yes! Here's to your success,
Michelle
Shell Creative

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“It’s Just Like This in Our Business”

A weekly dispatch on the three things every small business has to get right: Operations. Marketing. People. Real stories about the structural breakdowns that keep good businesses stuck and what it looks like when you finally fix them.

“It’s Just Like This in Our Business”

A weekly dispatch on the three things every small business has to get right: Operations. Marketing. People. Real stories about the structural breakdowns that keep good businesses stuck — and what it looks like when you finally fix them.

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