Fall in love with your customers.
I’ve been thinking about a recent conversation with a friend who helps aspiring entrepreneurs start their businesses. We were talking about how important it is to shift our perspective in the early stages of building a business.
You see, it's easy to fall in love with our own ideas – after all, they're our brainchild. But what really matters in the long run is falling in love with our customers. It sounds simple, but it's a powerful shift.
Think about it: no matter how amazing an idea is, it only matters if it resonates with the people we're trying to serve. The process of creating something meaningful begins by understanding the needs, problems, and dreams of our customers.
I've seen this play out in my work with clients. Some struggle because they find it hard to take feedback. They see it as criticism rather than an opportunity to learn what their customers truly want. Then there are those who want to appeal to everyone – a common trap – when really, focusing on a specific audience is what makes a business thrive.
But the most inspiring (and successful!) are the business owners who genuinely care about their customers as people. They're the ones who pay attention to every bit of feedback, who take the time to understand who their ideal customers are, and who pour their energy into making sure every interaction with their product or service is exceptional.
So, let's embrace this mindset shift together. Let's put your customers at the center of everything you do. I’ll help you listen, learn, and create in a way that truly serves them. Because, in the end, a successful business isn't just about what you love; it's about what your customers love.
If you're navigating the world of business and want to chat more about this, I'm here. Feel free to reach out and schedule a free consultation.
If you’re new here, I’m Shannon Parris, an equity-first management consultant, or as my clients think of me, a trusted, outsourced business partner. I help under-resourced entrepreneurs and nonprofit professionals activate their strategies, optimize their operations, measure and maximize their impact, and foster equitable environments so they can boost their capacity, resolve complex issues, and do the hard work of changing the world.
I plan to use this space to write about my experiences, hopefully in ways that will offer value to my readers. It’s not in my nature to try to sell things. I’m a nonprofit nerd; I just want to help. But what I’m learning about being self-employed is that I get to make choices about how to prioritize my values; I get to do what I want. So this blog may not follow the rules or best practices, but I hope that it does help someone. If there’s a topic you’d like to me to write about, please do let me know.
