READING TIME: 90 SECONDS.
I care passionately about human potential – and it shows. I give a damn about my books, my readers and my corporate speaking clients – and it shows. 80 percent of all my speaking engagements are word of mouth and repeat business, 9 of them in the next month alone.
When you give a damn, you give energy – good quality energy. When you don’t you zap energy. In my neck of the woods, Herrington’s Butchers in Port Perry, OTE Construction in Newcastle and Bowmanville Travel are all 20 minutes farther away than their competition, but they really give a damn about their staff, their products, services and clients – and it shows. They flourish and grow while their imitators come and go. Why? Because human beings are energy systems. We thrive on the quality and the quantity of the energy we get from other people.
Canadian companies like Porter Airlines, Four Seasons Hotels and Tim Horton’s give a damn – and it shows too – they energize their staff and customers. Trip Advisor rates thousands of vacation spots that give a damn. There are online reviews for everything because giving a damn is becoming the new benchmark – and it comes from the gut so it’s easy to spot a fake.
Sure you must deliver the goods, but increasingly consumers are making their purchase decisions based on “Does the chef who prepared this meal look like she gives a damn about my food?” “Does this mechanic give a damn about my car?” “Does this realtor/bank/airline give a damn about the impact they have on my life?” It’s easy to spot and relatively easy to fix.
They DONT give a damn and zap our energy when they:
- don’t make eye contact or smile
- argue with you, especially when you are right
- use closed body language
- leave the moment their shift ends
- ignore you while they talk, text or chat with their friends and co-workers
- ask if you want change for a twelve dollar meal when you put down a twenty
- waste your precious time by telling you someone will be there for a 10 minute service call sometime between 8am and 5pm
- say “unfortunately” and “have a nice day” when they just failed to help you on the phone and say “no problem” when you say goodbye!
- and on and on…..
They DO give a damn and boost our energy when:
- their 5 SuperPowers are ignited. i.e. they naturally feel and display enthusiasm, curiosity, feedback, empathy and imagination (this makes them like each other and feel happy and welcoming)
- management has given them the knowledge, words, and face-to-face people skills to create trusting human connections (this makes them feel resourceful and confident)
- they are trusted with the authority to match their responsibility (this makes them efficient and proud)
Good customer service isn’t enough. We are born to be inspired and passionate; to feel the flow of energy. Nature, love, family and society are either growing or decaying – growing or going. No middle ground. The same goes for business. With the right tools it’s fairly easy to rally, inspire and energize your customers and staff to grow.
So, connect, design, cook, study, innovate, collaborate and love like you give a damn. Imbue them with enthusiasm, curiosity, feedback, empathy and imagination. If not, look over your shoulder and make room for someone who can – they are breathing down your neck right now.
If would like help to rally and inspire your staff in just 60 minutes you can find out how here.
I give a damn! Take care Janice
Janice you are just around the corner and the best travel agent I’ve ever had. Nick
Glad to share the journey with another human who cares so much about human potential as we do at 4D Excellence. Thanks Nick for this meaty content!
Thanks. The people who don’t give a damn slow us down.
so true the power is in your word, and good body language shows…got to be positive and have a purpose in life, negative people create negative energy….hate that…love you stuff xx
Hi Prue. Guard your energy and be on the lookout for leaks in your own. They can run you down and ruin you.
I think a lot of us give a damn, we just don’t think anybody is listening. Maybe you should start a “I give a damn” section on your website where everybody can say they do. Your book Convence them in 90 Seconds has helped me show people I do.
Peter
Peter – I think it’s wonderful idea. Does anyone have any thoughts on what it should look like?
I give a damn. Many years I questioned if I was giving too much of a damn and felt frustrated somehow. Thankyou. I loved reading this article.
Thanks Emilia. When it’s in us we just give. We don’t count the cost. We are the damn best.
I give a damn for sure! Thanks for this awesome post.
Thanks Eva. It’s all about passion. Not motivation. We have to motivate people when they don’t give a damn.
I give a Damn, Nicholas. ‘When one gose to work for another’ that is exactly what it means, you are working for them, give them your all.
dan
Sounds like all your SuperPowers are working Dan. Good for you.
Nick. I read your boosts everytime they are posted. They’re always insightful, informative, & quite honestly….. damm right. This current one is even more so as I believe, as a self employed entrepreneur, if one is to be successful in attracting clients, one has to be equally successful in maintaining clients, & that means treating them like people, not clients.
Thanks Sheldon. If anyone knows about this subject you do. It’s at the heart of your charisma.
We give a moxie! Great post Nick – you are the best in the biz!
Marissa
That’s what makes you challenge the status quo and shake up the industry.
Yes. Use your available time and situation to give a damn. How little a damn can you give? A smile or a thank you in an email. Or listening and responding like Nicholas does. We all enjoy being heard. Thank you, Nicholas.
Thanks Tom. It’s about the joy of life. Joie de vivre.
Refreshing to read. Thank you. We use your dvds and books in our business. Inspiring and action orientated.
Thanks Helen. That’s refreshing praise coming from Apple. You are an organization that gives a damn by challenging the status quo and shaking up the industry on a regular basis.
As a 16 year old who works at a Chinese food place doing delivery, this is inspiring to read. Keep up the good work Mr. Boothman. Your book convince them in 90 seconds has definitely had a tangible impact on my life, and obviously others. I know it won’t be the last of wisdom I recieve from you.
Hi Michael. Thanks for this. I told the president of a company in Las Vegas about you and told him he should hire you. You never know. Keep up the good work. All the best, Nick Boothman
Thank you for your fantastic inspiration Nicholas. I was looking for something to explain the importance of genuine human connection for a BNI business networking education slot and here I have found it. Thank you for your passion and honesty which is instantly contagious. Wishing you health and happiness.
Hi Sarah – thanks for the kind words. All the best with your project.
And when you care and give a damn even when other people around you don’t respond the same way ? It’s who I am. I still have to care. In the work force ,other people make it easy for me to excel when they truly don’t care …
Thanks Randy. Hope you’re enjoying your summer.