Is the price really how you want to be judged?

I received the following from Jim Walton who is CEO of Brand Accelaration:In his most recent book, Collapse of Distinction, my good friend, Scott McKain, an outstanding speaker, trainer and author, states, "If you cannot find it within yourself to become emotional, committed, engaged, and yes, fervent about differentiation, then you had better be prepared to take your place among the vast throng of the mediocre who are judged by their customers solely on the basis of price. It is the singularly worst place to be in all of business. If you aren't willing to create distinction for yourself in your profession -- and for your organization in the marketplace -- then prepare to take your seat in the back, with the substantial swarm of the similar, where tedium reigns supreme."

This reminds me of the commercial that is currently running on tv, which ask the question: Who wants to have a huge foam finger showing that you are number 3? And yet I see it through-out the country, people are not engaged in what they are doing, just going through the motions, thinking that "good enough" is all that is needed.

My son recently had one of his first adventures into the world of beauracracy and while service and not price was his issue, he was met with the frustration of a world filled with people who did not return phone calls, who would not step outside of their box to assist him and left him wondering if the working world he will be entering in December (hopefully) is all there is. Luckily he persevered and was able to find the information he needed. This doesn's surprise me about him (knowing who his parents are and that they don't usually accept the status quo or suffer fools) but how many others are out there who throw up their hands in frustration and walk away.

I am asking the residents in Stokes County and the businesses here to try a different approach. We don't have retailers that will have the lowest prices, but if you look at the quote above, price can not be the only issue, service and the human side of the equation must be considered. And if our businesses expect the citizens to support them, they must make that extra effort and "try harder". It is a a big world out there and no one from outside our community really cares whether or not we succeed. Lets step up and support one another, show that we care and make the extra effort. Think Stokes First, treat each person as special and see what happens!