Business Lessons From Saxon and Friends
This week, as I enjoyed another timeless and phenomenal set from British Heavy Metal royalty, Saxon, it reminded me of all the reasons I love this music and what business can learn from it….
What most business owners want is profitability, sustainability and a business with sound ethical and commercial foundation. Much maligned but loved by millions across the world, the musical genre of Heavy Metal is a case study in sustainable brand values and massive customer loyalty. Within the song titles we can pick out some powerful and poignant messages.
Ace of spades – Motőrhead
What is your unique selling point…or your ace in the pack? For any business to succeed it needs to be able to differentiate itself from the competition. This need not be solely innovation but could be a more thorough approach, stronger branding, becoming an employer of choice or a going the extra mile to provide excellent customer service. This particularly applies to your ability to attract and retain the best people for your business. What makes people want to work for you?
Breaking the law – Judas Priest
Is your business staying within the law? Have you got appropriate policies and procedures to manage your employees and are your employee benefits compliant with upcoming legislation? Have all your employees got up to date contracts of employment and are you ready for Pensions auto-enrolment? Being an excellent employer will boost your profile, attract better employees and drive profitability.
747 Strangers in the night – Saxon
How often do you talk to your customers? Once you win a new client, do you move on to the next prospect or nurture the ones you already have. Remember that being a stranger to your own client base is opening the door to your competitors. Always look after the clients you have and look for sustainable growth rather than filling a bucket with new clients, only to find there is a hole in the bottom and you are leaking existing clients. The same principle applies to your people, are they happy in the business? Are they coasting and looking for a better alternative? Engage with your employees and they will go the extra mile for you
Paranoid – Black Sabbath
Do you worry about what your competitors are doing? Why not embrace your competition and try to understand what they are doing. Many lasting and profitable alliances are forged between competitors and naturally none of us is too old to learn. Connect with your competition and use it as an opportunity to improve, grow and succeed. Whilst it is very difficult to impact on competitor performance, you can have a major influence on your own business by the way you engage and reward your employees. Give your team an incentive to stay with you and push for success rather than them feeling compelled to stay with you for negative reasons.
Run to the hills – Iron Maiden
When the going gets tough, what do you do? Fight or flight? Try to see obstacles or setbacks as a potential business opportunity. It is the often the case that from adversity come some of the best ideas. See the obstacles as speed bumps on your route to success and turn each one into an opportunity to improve the way you do things. Engage with your team and encourage them to provide solutions. Out of adversity can come the best business ideas and from the least obvious sources within your team.
Could your business benefit from a fresh approach? Whether you want to grow your existing clients, win new clients, or simply stay compliant we can help.
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