E-Myth Blog

The Cycle of Gratitude

2008 | Nov 25 in Business Development , Home Page News , Lead Generation , Lead Conversion , Client Fulfillment

By E-Myth Business Coach

Here in the United States, we celebrate our Thanksgiving holiday this week. Besides eating lots of food and watching hours of football, the holiday is an opportunity for us to step back from our daily lives to give thanks for the bounty and abundance in our lives. Thanksgiving serves as a reminder that life is better lived in a state of gratitude. It's also a time when we make a point to acknowledge those who make a difference in our lives.

So how does this apply to your business? We're all thankful for our family and friends, but think about applying gratitude to your business. Are you grateful for your customers? Your employees? Do you appreciate the vendors you do business with? How do you show your appreciation and gratitude?

Turning Customers into Advocates

When you deliver your product or service "on time, every time exactly as promised" you create a customer experience that can turn a one-time customer into a life-long advocate. In short, you've nurtured a customer's gratitude — and they're likely to turn around and reward you with a referral.

A referral is someone who becomes a lead at the suggestion of someone else, often a customer. Referrals make great leads. They tend to be better qualified, more trusting and more aware of your business brand. Basically, they are more likely to buy. And, as an added bonus to your business, they are practically free.

When a referral lead comes in, make sure that you treat them like the precious gems they are. Show your gratitude. Is there an incentive you want to offer? Maybe you give them a free gift with no obligation just for coming in? How can you make sure that the experience they have in becoming a customer is just as solid as the experience they will have once they buy?

And never, never, never forget about your source of referrals! He or she has become your advocate for a reason. Let them know how thankful you are for the lead that they brought you. Remember two key words: motivation and appreciation. The very least you can do is to send them a nice thank you note. Maybe you go so far as to offer them a reward of some kind; a coupon or complimentary gift of one of your products, maybe a gift certificate for a local restaurant?

Remember, what goes around comes around. When you're genuinely thankful for the business, make a point of acknowledging your customer. Chances are good that it will come back to you!

E-Myth Tip

Seize the holiday spirit and send thank you notes to your vendors, key clients and employees acknowledging their importance to you and your business.

We are Thankful for YOU!

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, here at E-Myth we've turned a whiteboard into our Wall of Gratitude. All employees are invited to write down what we're thankful for at work on one side of the board, and what we're thankful for in our personal life on the other.

You should see this board! It's absolutely full of amazing and inspiring comments. We all walk by the Wall of Gratitude numerous times a day, and it serves as a reminder to us all — there's so much to be thankful for!

And guess what? You are on the E-Myth Wall of Gratitude. That's right, you. We are thankful for every member of the E-Myth community! We appreciate your participation, your motivation, your personal and professional transformation and your success.

Comments

1. Regi S. says:

   I'm thankful for my family at this of year and for God's blessings on us all.

   Submitted Nov 26, 2008 8:16 AM

2. Angela S. says:

   I am thankful for E-myth. The suggestion of the book exploded into a long line of referrals and network connections. E-myth is the absolute center of my business life! I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Michael Gerber and I knew that the E-myth culture inspired by him is one that I use and then inspire my clients to become a part of as well. It becomes our culture and language of success.

   Submitted Nov 26, 2008 8:24 AM

3. Brad J. says:

   I'm thankful for our business, and all the opportunities we have to make an impact in our little part of the world.  Most of our business does come from referrals from existing customers.  We do send a Thank You card, along with a $25 Gift Card from a local restaurant.  In the lawncare business, as in others, exceeding expectations of customers and getting them to talk about you (in a good way) is how to succeed.

   Submitted Nov 26, 2008 8:50 AM

4. juan c. says:

   I am not just thankful, but "extremely" thankful that on Thanksgiving Day I will have a meal, friends and family to enjoy and most of all the honor and blessings to spend my thanksgiving with my little brother, Pennie (from the Big Brother Big Sister Program) at a special event.

   In these United States, we are so blessed, yet so many take it for granted. Reach out and touch someone 's life tomorrow and always.

   Submitted Nov 26, 2008 8:51 AM

5. Wendy M. says:

   I am thankful for my business and the customers that come in everyday. I am thankful for my family who are there to support me in all aspects of my life and am also thankful to E-myth for showing me the way to run my business successfully.

   Submitted Nov 26, 2008 8:54 AM

6. David D. says:

   I am thankful for my customers, that they see the value in our business relationship. I am thankful to my son who shared with me the E-Myth book. I am thankful that after the seventh reading (each answering questions of the day) that I had finally seen the E-Myth website address, I discovered the Mastery Impact! program and now am thankful to my coach for her assistance and guidance!

   Happy Thanksgiving!

   Submitted Nov 26, 2008 9:39 AM

7. JOSEPH O. says:

   I thank E-Myth especially,for taking care of little things. Sometimes, things that seem not to matter. I am very pleased to be counted as an E-Myth family. Since January 2008 when I came to know about E-Myth and attened one of the courses you have always been there to help. What a wonderful family. I have decided to rely on you more in next year  than I have done. I hope by the grace of God to enroll for the E-Myth Mastery.

   Thanks. 

   Submitted Nov 26, 2008 10:00 AM

8. Daniel K. says:

   I'm thankful for the labor my mother went through to bring me into this world so I can achive my VISION!

   I wish everyone here peace and joy!

   Submitted Nov 26, 2008 10:01 AM

9. Michelle H. says:

   I am thankful for my wonderful family - the good - the bad and the ugly :)

   I am also thankful for the wondeful women (my clients) I have the pleasure of working with each and every day; they are warm and funny and intelligent and really make my day everyday. 

   Submitted Nov 26, 2008 12:43 PM

10. Dan C. says:

    Thanks for the idea of thanking even the referral for showing an interest. I'm already thanking the people who send me referrals with thank-you notes and gift cards, but your idea is another way to be the potential supplier of choice! Thanks a lot!

    Submitted Nov 26, 2008 2:11 PM

11. roxhana o. says:

    im thankful to God for the new business grants that my friend and i wil receive from government to start our biotech business. i m also thankful that i ve been sharing the business tips from e-myth among my friend, and thats one of the major the reasons he picked me among the rest to be his partner in business!. we will do tissue culture of plantlets of pineapple and bio diesel plant (jatropha curcas). thank you God for everything. gratitude from, malaysia.  

    Submitted Nov 26, 2008 4:16 PM

12. Obiora A. says:

    I am thankful to GOD for keeping me alife today and for my family.

    Submitted Nov 27, 2008 12:05 AM

13. kingsley g. says:

    Thanks for reminding me the relevance of this in business. Little things like this often go a long way in relationship developement. 

    I must confess that you guys are wonderful. I have learnt a lot from E-Myth. Thank you for everything.

    Submitted Nov 27, 2008 5:45 AM

14. Al S. says:

    Here in Canada, we celebrated our Thanksgiving last month.

    No matter --- I'm thankful every day for the opportunity to be in business and serve the needs of our clients, our employees and our community.

    Thank you, E-Myth for the reminder to thank our clients for their business and for the referrals. Sometimes it just seems so obvious, we forget to put it into practice.

    Submitted Nov 27, 2008 12:31 PM

15. Grace A. says:

    I am so thankful for my family, my health, the love and grace that I receive everyday.  I am thankful for my own business and the flexibility and huge rewards I receive from it everyday.  I am so, so blessed.

    Submitted Nov 27, 2008 1:51 PM

16. Barry E. says:

    I am Thankful for God's precious Love and blessings upon my family, friends, business assiociates, vendors, employees and myself throughout this year 2008.

    A special thank you to the E-myth World wide.

    Since i listened to the E-myth CD by business got turnaround.

    Special thanks to God For America

    God Bless America, God Bless Nigeria

    Long live the Federal republic of Nigeria

    Long Live Delta State

    Long Live Iwere Land

    Thanks

    Submitted Nov 28, 2008 12:55 AM

17. shadrack i. says:

    Am very thankful to God for  opening up my mind throh the E-myth .

    Since i started to apply the  material  i have read in your book and email correspondence, i have started to see change coming my way in business and basically in other areas of my life.I also thank my friend and customer who introduced me to the culture of reading to add my knowledge.

    Thankyou very much and God bless you.  

    Submitted Nov 29, 2008 6:32 AM

18. PATRICE P. says:

    I am thankful for E-myth. As I begin to read the book, I can agree with my fellow colleagues that Michael Gerber is a genius.

    Submitted Nov 29, 2008 2:59 PM

19. Perry B. says:

    I am thankful for all the opportunities available to me everyday.

    Submitted Nov 30, 2008 3:06 PM

20. Tracey M. says:

    I am thankful for the courage I gain from the support of my friends and family.

    Submitted Dec 11, 2008 4:35 PM

21. Robin H. says:

    I am thankful to Jesus for the love He has shown to me through His ultimate sacrifice 2000 years ago and the encouragement He provides to me each day through my husband's constant support of my business pursuit.  Thanks to E-Myth for the insight through the website and book into a better and healthier approach to small business.

    Submitted Dec 11, 2008 6:45 PM

22. Maru M. says:

    Gracias! Gracias Michael Gerber for sharing with us all your vision, for motivating us, for empowering us, for helping us find our own way. Gracias Jamison for being such a patient coach!

    Submitted Dec 14, 2008 5:39 AM

23. Jamison H. says:

    I am very grateful to all of you who consistently inspire me with your courage, commitment, Strength, humanity and grace-that includes you big time Maru!

    Submitted Dec 17, 2008 11:00 AM