Tip 85: Make it bigger than you

A good friend of mine told me the art is always bigger than the artist. Make what you do more than about your bottom line. Make it more than about you. Recognize and embrace your role in making life better for your customers, teams, communities and anyone else that is impacted by your business.

Examples

1. Mega-star Beyonce has a cause that is bigger than her music: women’s empowerment. The self-proclaimed modern-day feminist often touts girl power in her songs, and even has an all-girl band dubbed The Sugar Momma’s. The singer created the band with the intention of inspiring young girls to get involved in music.
2. Small Biz Lady Melinda Emerson has made it her mission to eliminate small business failure. This goal which is much larger than her own business, has propelled her to expand the number of ways she is able to serve entrepreneurs.

Suggestions

1. Elevate your tribe. Lead, empower, and strengthen them by the work you do in a way that goes beyond the goods and services you provide.
2. Partner with others who share a similar mission as you to find ways to work together to achieve your common goal.

Application for your business

1. What is the mission for your business?
2. Write down three ways you can strengthen your customers beyond the products and services you offer.

Previous tips

1-22. Section 1: Build a relationship with your customers (series)

23-48. Section 2: Make your customers’ lives better (series)

49-62. Section 3: Reward your customers (series)

63. Be cool (code for be yourself)

64. Love what you do (and let it show)

65. Give your business some G.A.S.

66. Have awesome people

67. Take care of your awesome people

68. Be remarkable

69. Be memorable

70. Shake things up

71. Be awesome in unexpected small ways

72. Be awesome in unexpected big ways

73. Start a movement

74. Be fearless

75. Tell the story about your product

76. Do mundane tasks in a new, different, and unexpected way

77. Empower your team to make a less than optimal experience right

78. Be prepared for anything

79. Have an ego

80. Don’t take yourself too seriously

81. Make them lol (literally)

82. Dance

83. Sing a song or rap

84. Turn your customers’ frowns upside down