Finding Customers That Align With Your Values

If you can work with clients that are like minded in the way they operate and in their general attitude, you can work much better together. A healthy business relationship really can be like a friendship!

It's specifically important with a service-based business because you're having potentially daily interaction with each other.

As a service provider it’s been really important for us to openly ask potential clients ”what are your business values?” - Because we need to get the most out of the relationship. We need to be aligned.

As an example, a core value of our business is respect - and you would assume that every business would have that as a value, wouldn’t you? As decent human beings we know we should respect each other. But we've worked with businesses that don't have respect as a value. Respect just isn’t a value that they hold in high regard, and surprise - their actions and the etiquette reflects that, and it’s been REALLY difficult to work with them.

Throughout my own career I’ve dealt with employers and clients that have an opinion of ”I'm giving you money, so you do what I say”. But hang on… you’re the one providing your unique value! The exchange of service for payment should be a fair trade. You get something, I get something, everybody wins. And both parties should be grateful and courteous for that.