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Success is Self-Inflicted

Written by Steve Yastrow on February 1, 2010 – 1:03 am -

I was listening to an executive explain his company’s dismal results to a group of people: “The recession of 2008 and 2009 caused us to have our first year-over-year sales decline in the company’s history.”

“No,” I thought as I heard this.  “The economy didn’t cause your poor sales results. You had bad sales results because your customers didn’t buy as much from you.”

Be careful about inferring causes for your business results.  All you know for sure if your sales decline is that your customers paid you less money.  But you may not know why.

Of course, the economic situation may have been one reason that this company’s customers purchased less. But to reflexively assign blame to the recession instantly leaves the company off the hook. Was it only the economy that depressed sales, or was it something the company did, or did not, do that affected customer behavior?

Maybe the economic situation just exposed how weak the company’s customers’ loyalty is.  Or that this company is not as agile as its competitors.

The direct drivers of your results are, for better or worse, the actions your customers take.  There are many things you do that affect how your customers act, many (most) of which have a stronger influence than external factors.

Success is self-inflicted.

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About Steve Yastrow and Yastrow & Company

In addition to writing, I spend most of my work time helping companies unleash their potential by creating better connections with their customers. This happens through my speaking events and through Yastrow & Company consulting engagements, where my team and I help companies figure out who they intend to be in the future, and then engage the entire company in creating that future through strong "We" customer relationships.

Before starting Yastrow & Company in the mid-90s I was vice-president of resort marketing for Hyatt Hotels. My experiences in the hotel business showed me clearly that most marketing doesn’t happen in the marketing department. Customers are paying attention to all interactions with a company, not just the promises made in traditional "marketing communications."

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