I have heard many things while taking photos, but I often hear many conversations. Some you just over hear by accident or because you are just there. But from hearing many different things from many business owners and clients I heard recently one conversation that taught me a valuable lesson in how people hold themselves professionally. As I don’t enjoy hearing a negative situation, I am thankful for what you are reading; because it taught me what I do not want to be….professionally.
I will not name anyone or a landmark, it’s simply an opinion turned into a lesson I felt I should share. Hopefully if you are a business owner you may feel as I did about turning a negative into a positive situation.
It’s simply about reaction. Many business owners today are faced with many situations from customers always believing they are always right. In many situations this can be the case, but sometimes it is not. I feel it’s how you handle the situation that teaches not only your customer, but the surrounding employees about your character. Your character as a business owner is one of the reasons you attempted to start a business possibly in the first place. In helping many charitable functions I see first hand the people who are helping because they are passionate to do so. I feel this drive next to you is why an event is a success or a failure. It starts and ends with character. For some the drive for character is helping any way they can (which is enough) and for some just a smile is great for someone’s motivation to want to be a part of future successes.
With this success comes responsibility. When you are responsible for your character you can become a leader. The way you lead is your choice. But as an owner of a business in many ways you are a role model for others who are under you. In many ways, the same as a parent to a child. When you think of your “boss,” if you are working for him or her; their character can dictate your reactions to many things you may do as well sub-consciously. One example is giving back to the community. In the last 5 years I have personally seen the power of this such practice. Year after year I see business owners and bosses continue to earn more and more support from myself because of an amazing drive to help the communities they support and live in. I also see the opposite. I can also observe going to a business or event one year and returning to see bigger smiles because it takes time to learn what good YOU can do. I have many clients personally, and I can say that they do have one amazing thing in common. They know or are learning the value of the amazing community around them. It is a drive that I can honestly say I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of.
Thank you to the many who understand the value of what our community means, and why our character in many ways mean alot more than just dollars and cents. Hopefully many will establish alot more “common sense” in the future, and if not thank you for inspiring me to want to write this.
Thank you for your time. ~ Kevin Ste Marie
