Last week I had an encounter with an entrepreneur and it was quite evident that she had turned her passion into a business. And as it should be.
We should all be doing that thing we love doing, that excites us and that comes so naturally that we would do it for free. We don’t realize how easily our customers can tell when we are passionate about our work and not just doing it to earn a living.
One of the entrepreneurs, Linda, was an owner of a printing and framing shop. I called her to find out about her prices and she recommended that I come to her shop so that we could see how we could work together. I was taken back because instead of her just giving me her prices, she also spoke about building a relationship with me. So I took the drive out to her shop and was met with a warm and friendly familiar greeting.
I spent an hour in her shop where she explained and demonstrated the best way for me to print and frame and she gave me additional information to consider to make the end product a good representation of myself.
She ended up sending me home with some things to think about and suggested I come back to her once I know exactly what I wanted to achieve. Now, if you are a regular retail shopper you would know that no salesperson or shop owner would send you home without purchasing something, so I immediately knew that Linda was one of those special few who was doing what she loves.
Here are some characteristics of entrepreneurs who are passionate about what they do:
1. It’s not just about making a sale
It’s about building a relationship with their clients. They want to get to know their customer and their needs and help them find the best way to meet those needs. Whether it results in a sale or not, they are happy to spend the time talking to you about their product or service and answering your questions.
2. They are excited about their product or service
As they speak about their product or service and their industry you can hear the enthusiasm and it makes you want to engage with them.
3. They educate you
It's clear that they know their product or service very well as they give you all the information about it that you need, and then some. They aren’t worried that you would go and steal their business model, because they are just enjoying doing what they love.
4. They tell you about their entrepreneurial journey
A true entrepreneur loves sharing their story and any customer would love to hear why and how the business was started. You as the customer then feel a part of that journey as you engage in their services.
5. You walk away wanting to start your own business
You leave them thinking how you one day want to feel that passionate about what you are doing or wanting to start your own little business so that you can be as helpful as they were to you.
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