Strong relationships are what make life enjoyable
This sage piece of advice appeared on my screen thanks to INC.com –
A Study of Adult Development at Harvard Medical School, which tracked 724 men – 268 Harvard graduates and 456 less-privileged men who grew up in Boston at the same time – for roughly eight decades. It found a simple prescription for how the most successful people ultimately find happiness. As the current head of the study, Robert J. Waldinger, famously put it:
The lessons aren’t about wealth or fame or working harder and harder. The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this:
Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.
Count your good friends on one hand:
In your personal life, good strong relationships are what make life enjoyable and less challenging, particularly when you know you have people who care for you and have your back.
You do not need dozens of people; a handful of good and true friends are all that is required.
“It’s not what you have in life but who we have in our life that matters”
Margaret Laurence, Novelist
“The 80/20 Principle asserts that a minority of causes, inputs or effects usually lead to a majority of the results, outputs or rewards.”
Richard Koch – the 80/20 Principle
‘Pareto Law’ applies to everything in life.
20% of the carpet in your home takes 80% of the wear. (hallways and around doors)
20% of what you do for your partner, provides 80% of the happiness
Do you know what the 20% is?
This principle also applies in business:
In most businesses, 80% of profits come from 20% of the clients.
A true story
One of my clients told me this very interesting anecdote some years ago.
Their business was expanding rapidly and they had some customers who were more trouble than they were worth, you know the type – they want everything yesterday, at the lowest price and they then take a long time to pay.
So, they came up with a plan.
They wrote to each of their difficult customers telling them that due to the pressure of work they felt they were no longer able to provide a level of service that would meet their expectations.
They then proceeded to recommend one of their competitors as an alternative supplier.
A month later my client received a call from the supplier they proposed, advising them that they had recommended these customers to them some 5 years ago.
Thanks but no thanks!
My advice to all my clients is choose your customers, do not let them pick you.
Then, build good relationships by providing a consistent and reliable service and you will have customers for many years to come.
Final reminder:
