Are Your Clients Real People?

“The fact of the matter is 100% of customers are people. 100% of clients are people. 100% of employees are people. I don't care how good your product is, I don't care how great your marketing is, I don't care how well you design, if you don't understand people, you don't understand business. We are social animals. We are human beings and our survival depends on our ability to form trusting relationships.”

Are you seeing your clients, potential clients, employees/downline, and fellow humans as people? There is something about how we were created that longs for relationship and to be known. We are called to love each other deeply. And I believe that deep down in your gut you know if you’re seeing people for the beautiful creations they are or if you’re seeing them as another sale to make you more money. In a highly virtualized world, we must remember that we are all humans, created by God, in need of our fellow humans to recognize us and treat us as the beloved creations we are.

Unfortunately, we are all seriously broken and technology has a way of altering how we see our fellow humans. Through technology we tend to see people either as more than human {near perfect} or less than human {someone to add to your quota} when we engage online.  Let’s dive into this topic a little bit more by asking these questions:

• Are you using people to get where you want to be?
• Are you posting phony replies and posts on social media just to be present and play the part of a successful entrepreneur?
• Are you genuinely interacting with people on social media and in person?
• Are you fully present when you’re with your family and friends?
• Can you disconnect from the unfinished business tasks you have to do at the end of your working hours to reconnect with family and friends?
• Is it difficult to stop thinking about how you can get more people to buy from you?
• Do you follow up with clients after you provide them a product or service?
• Do you treat people differently after you made a sale with them?
• Are you “befriending” people in person and virtually to earn a buck?

As I write this, I long to be sharing with you in person. I would so enjoy if we could sit on my front porch, enjoy a cup of coffee, and share our stories. But the fact of the matter is we are more than likely separated by time zones and miles. As an online entrepreneur, you’re also unable to meet in person with clients, potential clients, and new team members. But, do the distance and screens that separate you change how you see others? If you’re feeling guilty about how you’ve been seeing people, it’s okay to admit your failure, knowing there is always enough grace to transform you. Here are a few thoughts to keep in mind as you work through this issue:

1. The people you see online are real people

No matter how successful or confident someone appears to be online, at the end of the day, they are still simply human. Because of the influx of technology in our businesses it can be tricky to remember that the person we are communicating with is a real person, living on the same little Earth we’re on. We may not have to breathe the same germs or shake their hand, but we must remember that they are infinitely loved by a great big God and we’re called do the same. They have feelings, concerns, and questions, just like the rest of us.

2. Others do not exist to fund your bank account

Since the beginning of time, money has been a way of life. There’s much caution to take when dealing with money, however there is no shame in earning money. That being said, the person on the other end of your client call or email does not exist to merely fund your bank account. Don’t let the status of your relationship be determined by their investment {or lack thereof} in your business. Even if the person never agrees to buy your product or work for your team, you still have an obligation to love them.

3. Not everyone is a potential client

As hard as this is to accept, not everyone in the world is a potential client for your business. Don’t agree to meet up with a friend for coffee so you can chat oils. Don’t friend people on social media to sell to them {there’s a difference between selling and networking}. We were made for so much more than selling products and services to each other. We were made to love genuinely and freely. We were made to value others. We were created with infinite value and with a calling to celebrate the beauty within our fellow humans. Their hesitation to jump into your program or buy a product should never make or break your treatment or love for them.  

4. Don’t let the outcome of a sales pitch determine your happiness or relationships

You want so badly to make a sale and to gain the trust your clients, it can be downright scary, right? But how much less scary would a sales pitch be if the outcome of your day, mood, success mindset, etc. didn’t depend on whether you made the sale or not? What if you didn’t consider the sales call that didn’t end in a sale a failure? Would it be enough for you to simply be thankful to have deepened your relationship with someone or to have gotten to know someone you may not have had the chance to otherwise? Could you thank God you were able to share the vision and mission He’s given you with someone else? Let’s go a step further: Would you praise God if you don’t sign a new client because you know someone who would be a better fit for her and you aided in both of their success? {Ouch}

How can you transform your thinking to see people the way God sees people? Do you need to dive into His word and truly understand what a Christian entrepreneur acts like? Maybe you simply need to pray that God would help you to love people as his creations, instead of seeing money signs. Is it possible you need to chat with a Christian business mentor who has struggled with the same sin, but knows there’s always enough grace to save you from these struggles? Chatting with my business mentor has eradicated serious issues in my business and reassured me that I am not as evil as I feel at times. I would love to chat with you, hear your struggles, eliminate the guilt you may be feeling, and cheer you on as you continue in your business. If you need to chat, schedule a complimentary call with me. I look forward to hearing from you sister.

‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than this.”