What Has The Death of My Uncle and Bonding With Your Customers and Clients... Got to Do With Eachother?

In a word... E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!

I dare say that this will be the most unusual posting you will have read, so please, stay with me.

Like me, you’ve probably have had tragedy strike you or your loved ones in one form or another. It struck in my life just a couple of short weeks ago.

My family and I had just returned from an evening fireworks display at our local park. When it was all done, we gathered ourselves to the car and reached home. And, just as we normally do, either my wife or I check too see if there were any answer-phone messages. There was. One. Made at 8.10pm.

On the answer machine, my aunty could barely utter a sentence and what we make out was my uncle coughing and spluttering in the background. We put the phone down and looked at the time. It was nearly 9.00pm. The message was lying there for 40 minutes! We made a call to the long distance number.

We found that my uncle had been taken to hospital and my aunt didn't know much more than that. We told the aunt not to panic and we’ll find out what we could. We contacted my father-in-law and all he could do was sob uncontrollably on the phone. My uncle, my favourite uncle... had died. The next ten days were the most emotional I have ever witnessed. And also, they were the most instructive.

Let me explain:

My uncle left a legacy that’s fairly extraordinary. You see, he left behind a group of people who loved and adored him because of who he was and how he made people feel. And, he instilled in others a set of values, principles and beliefs that nurtures having healthy, loving and caring relationships. And, in today’s social climate, that’s all the more precious – creating and maintaining caring, loving relationships.

My uncle did a lot of groundbreaking things in his life. Maybe I’ll share those with you at another time. He was respected and held in high esteem. Though in his 80's, my uncle had a lot of projects on the go. Projects that now, need finishing. The family are working towards seeing them to completion.

My uncle retired as Director in the Ministry of Defence (not a small post by any means), he had to continually sell and market his thoughts, his opinions, his way of working. It was an important and responsible post. Despite the ardour that a post inevitably brings, my uncle had a truly fabulous family life and a really blossoming social life.

Isn’t that what life’s all about? Working and striving in a job or a business; have a super family life; enjoy the best of health; and... have a generally happy disposition? GOOD TIMES... right!

Forming life long relationships is the key to a happy and prolonged life. My uncle died when he was 82. He had a wealth of people around him. Some of his friends date back decades. His family all adored him. There were a lot of fabulous things said about him. He maintained his key relationships that lasted his lifetime.

Can you see the beauty and charm of having relationships that last almost forever? Wouldn’t it be something if your family, friends, clients and customers actively stayed with you for as long as you’re on the planet? Wouldn’t it be something if all were there to help you celebrate some of your most important milestones, your anniversaries, your birthdays, your triumphs?

If I were to estimate how much value resulted because one man's influence (my uncle), I’d put it into the millions. And, the influence and effect he had on a number of people’s lives... Thousands! That's the power and worth that a single person can generate. Their lifetime value, their influence and touch on others can be simply... enormous!

Once you start thinking about yourself and your worth, and, how much value a single customer of yours is worth, a family member, a close friend, it will truly, boggle your mind!

I don’t know if you’re entirely happy with the relationships you have with your customers, with the way your marketing and advertising is being done, with the way you’re perceived in the marketplace, with the pace you’re wanting to grow...

If you’re are sincerely and entirely happy, then hats off to you, you’re a rare breed. But let me ask you something else; how’s family life? your personal life? your social life? You see, the way you market, has a definite and direct effect in how your life unfolds.

And... the way to maintain a healthy balance to it all is to form realtionships, human bonds that need all the force of humanity to break them.

How does one start to create fantastic relationships, or build heavily on existing ones?

Well, here's a few questions for you to ponder over, questions that'll tell you a lot about you and your relationships with others.

1. Am I considered a kind and trustworthy person to most of those who know me?

2. If my close relative passed away tomorrow, would I sincerely miss them, or is it business as usual?

3. If a client or customer of mine has a problem with my product or service, would I or my staff do our utmost to clear the problem up and leave the customer in a happier frame of mind, whether they decided to choose my product or service from now on or not?

4. Do I treat the people who work for and with me, as the most important people in my business?

5. Do I treat my family members as the most important people in my life?

6. What am I presently doing that ensures my family, my customers my friends, stay with me forever and ever?

These questions shouldn't be treated lightly. That is, if you're really looking to create super relationships and bonds that last even beyond your lifetime! Study your answers to them for in them you'll work out for yourself what needs to be done. And, done sooner, rather than later.

The hands of time are ticking by, every minute that we’re worrying, stressing, fussing, complaining... are moments that we should be revelling in, enjoying to the hilt.

I’m sure you didn’t choose to get into business, or have a family, or choose the friends and relationships you have... and have it all become a chore, an iron anchor round your neck, something that has you continually fretting and stumbling around in how it’s causing you no end of stress. Am I right?

You see, living a life can either be a great experience, or not. Having and running a business can be a great and profitable experience, or not. Enjoying life's friendships and relationships can be something you choose to have happen, or not.

My suggestion?

You've one life. Live it the best you can. Get as much joy and happiness out of it as you can. Create the best relationships out of it as you can, for you never know when you'll be plucked out of life's equation.

Build the kind of life that people will talk about long after you've gone.

I personally know someone who did.

Raja C. Hireker