So I’ve just done the math’s and I think I’ve saved 20 man-hours this week inside of the Vegan business this week.
What was the B-I-G fix?
Well, as simple as getting a new printer.
Truth is, and at scale, the old InkJet just wasn’t cutting the mustard and was slowing shit down.
Now, what I didn’t realise was how much time this hunk of junk was actually costing.
Infact with the new one in place, orders are being printed and processed three times faster.
… Which means there is now 300% more time available to focus elsewhere.
It all comes back to what the Japanese call Lean Sigma – or what I call cutting the crap and eliminating waste.
Now here’s the interesting thing about waste – especially time waste.
… Despite what Japanese philosophy would have you believe, in my experience, the biggest time suck for most men in this game is one thing, and one thing only.
Customers.
… More importantly pain in the arse customers that make dickhead demands.
A principle of man, that’s heavily ingrained in Iron Law #6 – Ruthlessly Disregard Bad Money
Because dickhead customers will always be bad money, and experience dictates that there is never ever any profit in bad money.
Here’s why:
- Bad money wants you available 24/7.
- Bad money wants more than what’s agreed.
- Bad money questions the price (more than once).
- Bad money has unrealistic expectations.
- Bad money doesn’t know what it wants.
- Bad money wants ideas for free.
- Bad money is never quite satisfied.
- Bad money is late and never paid on time.
- Bad money moves the goalposts.
- Bad money pushes your personal boundaries.
In fact, if you’ve ever felt overworked and underpaid, despite the business turning over more money, this is the reason why.
It’s why now more than ever, and in order to reduce stress, the dickhead customers must go.
In fact, you’d be wise to consider sacking all dickhead customers with speed and full force.
The great Dan Kennedy said it best:
“A sacked toxic customer will always be quickly replaced by someone better and more profitable…”
Truth is and in The Fellowship alone, I have sacked no fewer than 10 members over the last five years and have not regretted a single one.
Some I personally liked.
Some I still personally call friends.
BUT all demanded that I sacrificed my control, for them – so they had to go.
Now, the fact of the matter is, in every instance:
- It increases respect.
- It increases time.
- It increases profit.
Kinda counter intuitive I know, but a law, and science, that’s been proven time and time again.
Anyway, on the back of this, and in reaction to a worrying NEW trend in customer behaviour, this seems to be a hot topic for the smart ambitious men, here, inside of The Fellowship.
It’s why at next month’s private Think Tank we’ll be specifically starting to take aim together on customer control.
So if you’ve got customers that are causing more pain than profit, then you might be wise to consider starting to fill out an application here, to see if you are ready to take a seat around the table:
Make More. Provide More. Be More
Charlie Hutton
