Teach People How to Treat Your Business
“You teach people how to treat you by what you allow, what you stop, and what you reinforce.”
People will take your small business as seriously as you teach them to. If you talk about your business like it’s a hobby, people will treat it as a hobby. When people ask you how things are going, don’t shrink down and play it off like it’s no big deal. Running a business is a big deal! It’s so much work and if you talk about your business with authority and confidence, people will understand that you’re for real. You teach people how to treat your business (and how to treat you!). Be proud of your accomplishments. It’s not bragging to state facts! You’re not doing yourself any favors by downplaying what you do.
If you reply to every email/message at all hours of the day/night, you’re teaching people that you’re available 24/7. It’s ok to set office hours. It’s good to set office hours, or you will drown in work. That email can wait till morning.
If you talk shop in text messages, Instagram DM’s, Facebook Messenger, and emails, you’re teaching people that they can reach you in whatever way is most convenient to them. This is problematic when you need to find that price you quoted or that conversation you had and now you have to check four different places to find it. I’m always gracious to people who contact me in any number of ways, but I kindly as that they email me, or I ask for their email address and tell them I will reply to their questions via email. Teach people where to interact with your business.
It takes a lot of nerve to dive into entrepreneurship. Even if it’s a side hustle and not a full time gig, that doesn’t mean you’re not working at it with all your heart. Keep going and stand tall! You’re amazing.
In an effort to foster a creatives community I’ve started a Facebook group called Art is a Record Creatives Community, the same name as this blog. I would love for you to join in the fun as we discuss creative living, projects, art, and life.
