I have many friends that are in business for themselves and some of these friendships started out as me being the customer. Recently I had a conversation with Jason Sheffield of WNC Realty about basic business philosophy. We were lamenting about a real estate deal that an associate of his lost because this other agent (who lost the deal) was very interested in hard closing the potential customer. The potential customer was turned off by the old school aggressive sales techniques that were being employed. Instead of asking many questions to really pin point the customer needs, the other realtor kept trying to close, close, close. It cost them that deal and likely many more. If this high pressure realtor had taken 10 extra minutes to really figure out what the needs of the potential customer were it would have made a big difference. By simple asking a few extra questions about the customers needs and the specific way the customer needed to approach the transaction it would have been clear to the realtor how to best close the deal. It really does not take that much more time to be a professional salesperson so that the potential customer wants to do business with no one else. Jason and I agreed that a business relationship was always more important than one real estate deal or any single transaction. You can always make another real estate deal or sell another product, but close business associates, and ultimately friends, are irreplaceable. The basic way to describe a person that buys a product is as a "customer". Once a business establishes repeat transactions with a specific customer, and earns a customers trust,NFL Camouflage Realtree Jerseys, the customer then becomes more of a "client". Building strong client loyalty by offering a high quality experience and top of mind product and brand awareness will hopefully result in clients then becoming "confidants". Once you transition customers to confidants you not only have a loyal customer but you also have a confidant that will go out of their way to share your companies story with their friends, family,Bo Jackson raiders Jersey, and even strangers. Confidants take time and energy to acquire, and those business relationships are likely formed over time,Cheap LeGarrette Blount Jersey, but there is no better way to get business. Word of mouth and personal referral beats out advertising and marketing every time. When I can I always do business with my friends. Typically business relationships develop over time and sometimes the business people end up becoming personal friends. It simply starts out as a typical transactional business arrangement and over time the relationships can evolve. Some of my closest friends are a direct result of business transactions. Some have been customers of mine and with others I have been the customer. The local coffee shop owner where I buy my coffee beans typically asks me about my family and how everyone is doing before he asks me what I want to buy. We will chat about art or music before we get into the flavor of the day or how many pounds I am interested in purchasing. This is the way I like to do business when I spend money, particularly when it is my disposable income. I could buy any number of coffee beans at the grocery store, and sometimes I do, but it is a more enriching experience when I go to my guy at Jongo Java. You can see more about this entrepreneur in an interview with him, Dan Smith. Building a successful business is not an easy task. Entrepreneurs are a brilliant breed of business people that I respect immensely. I see many businesses make a fatal mistake that could cost a start up or established business everything. In order to be successful a business relationship should come before the business transaction,Cheap Jamaal Anderson Jersey, and if done properly customers transition to clients and ultimately to confidants. If multiple companies offer the same product, and the price is relatively competitive, I tend to do business with companies and people that I like. I believe this is simply human nature. A business owner should attempt to attract customers and offer products and services that turn a one time transaction into a long term business relationship. Repeat business is the absolute key to a successful business model and if customers are repeating their business with a particular company the odds are high that they are referring new customers by word of mouth advertising. Passing on a deal, even when you could close the customer, can be much more fruitful over time. Sometimes by holding off on the hard close and fostering a long term relationship,Cheap Bill Posluszny Jersey, the potential customer will become an instant confidant and the business will certainly follow. You can always pass on one deal, and work hard to replace it,Cheap Fred Biletnikoff Jersey, but a relationship with a confidant is almost impossible to duplicate.