Author: Ifeoluwapo Bezalel
When we were younger, we loved to have our way. When things didn’t go how we wanted, we threw tantrums. We thought about ourselves only. We prioritised our wants. We barely considered people’s feelings. Neither did we realise the effect of our actions on people. Unfortunately, adulthood arrived and served us a premium breakfast. We had to come to terms with the fact that things wouldn’t always go the way we wanted – that life was in the business of giving us the opposite of what we ask for. We realised that the world didn’t revolve around us or our needs, but around others, too.
The tables turned quickly as we approached the grown-up stage. We had to unlearn the idea that life was supposed to be easy, with no challenges whatsoever. When we eventually overcame these challenges, we found that we had grown in unexpected ways.
Unlike the infancy stage of life, becoming an entrepreneur requires you to place people above yourself. It exemplifies everything that adulthood represents. Often, you’ll have to suppress your own wants and choose what your customers need, even if it’s uncomfortable. You’ll face unexpected challenges with them, which may lead you to question your capabilities.
Entrepreneurship is the very definition of “life isn’t a bed of roses.” Serving others isn’t supposed to be comfortable. It is designed to stretch your limits, enabling you to help people on a larger scale. When serving people with your skills, meeting the needs of your customers should be your topmost priority. Everything you do should be geared towards advancing the experience of your consumers. You shouldn’t treat them in the same manner you’d treat a friend you just disagreed with.
Even when you’re upset with them, you should think about making them feel comfortable. You have to care about what they think and feel. What you provide, whether it’s a product or service, should lead to a significant improvement in their lives.
No one cares how much of a pro designer you are. They care about your designs because they meet their needs – not because they’re the best they’ve ever seen. It’s always the customer’s way or no way. When you prioritise them in your business, it communicates your loyalty to their growth.
However, when you provide a product or service that doesn’t solve an actual problem for your customers, you sabotage your brand’s reputation. Providing the best services without considering the personal taste of your consumers is a recipe for failure.
Just like how solving life’s challenges helps you grow, they’ll see your commitment to their growth when your product or service solves a problem for them. This will encourage them to continue investing their time, resources, and money in your business. As time passes, it will inadvertently lead to the growth of your business.
If you’re intentional about improving the lives of your consumers, here are a few things you can do to grow your brand:
- Conduct in-depth research: The first thing you need to do as a creative who is committed to providing the best service or product to consumers is to know your target audience. You can’t do that without conducting in-depth research about them. Doing so will help you determine their likes and dislikes, allowing you to provide them with what they truly need.
- Focus on solving a problem for your consumers: Your goal as a creative is not to satisfy your own taste. It is to prioritise the needs of your consumers. All your actions should be channelled towards one goal – to ensure their optimum satisfaction.
- Take responsibility for your customer’s satisfaction: This requires you to act and find issues to resolve even before they become actual problems. As a brand, you should identify the factors that may compromise your customers’ comfort before they become a significant issue. This communicates to your customers that you are committed to helping them. By doing this, you’ll boost customer loyalty.
- Emphasise their pain points: After performing in-depth research, determine if your product or service can actually lead to an improvement in their life. If it cannot, then you’re wasting your time and resources.
Your major purpose as a creative is to serve people who need your services or product. The service you provide should revolve around them, and your ultimate goal is to ensure they achieve their desired outcome.
If you want to master designs that prioritise people first and will help you to successfully meet the needs of your consumers, join Bezalel today.
This is so profound. Evey successful project is about the client. Client centered!