"I'm In The Business Of Helping People Not Worry!"

The Castle Green

 

Earlier this month I participated in a wedding fair hosted by Dior Chase, Events Manager at Pasadena’s legendary Castle Green.  I usually don’t participate in these fairs but Dior always manages to create a fun, intimate experience.  At day’s end, I looked for Dior to say good-bye and spotted a laughing couple hugging her.  Moments later, Dior was beaming as she told me that the couple felt relieved and no longer stressed about their wedding because they’d met such great vendors.  With pride Dior said she loved her handpicked vendors because they were the best (thank-you, Dior!).  What’s more, she said she only wants to work with the best because she wants her couples to feel confidently happy when planning their wedding.

I’ve been thinking about what Dior said – that she’s in the business of helping people not worry during one of the most important times in their lives.  What an incredible thing to say about yourself, “I’m in the business of helping people not worry!”

What does it take to succeed in the business of helping people not worry?  Dior makes it look simple and maybe that’s because it actually is simple to do.  If you offer a service that ultimately reassures people, then you simply need to:

·      Know your self.  Know what you enjoy.  Know the technical aspects of what you’re offering so that you are the expert.

·      Surround yourself with top people.  I’ll go so far as to say – be a snob and insist on working only with the best.

·      Let “the best” know you think they’re the best.  Be generous with your compliments.

·      Stay grounded, knowing that the unpredictable is unpredictable because it can’t be predicted!  Go about your business always having in the back of your mind the belief, “I’ll handle it” – no matter what the “it” might be.

·      Share your knowledge even if there might not be an immediate return.  People remember people who help them, even if they don’t hire them on the spot.

·      Understand that you’re dealing with real people with real needs and every real need has an accompanying fear.  Let them know you understand.

·      Laugh.  “Seriously” – there are precious few jobs where humor is not going to help you go a long ways.

Play around with these basics.  Make them your own and soon you will have your special brand – a brand that reassures people they are in safe, competent hands with you.

What Dior does is deceptively simple – she treats her clients like colleagues and her colleagues like clients.  When you treat people like that, they will hug you and say, “Thank you – what a relief it is not to have to worry.”

 Yes, Life can be that simple!