I had to make a difficult decision about taking on a new member of the Creative Warehouse team this week.
But there was one factor which was decisive, and happily came to my rescue:
- The difference between talking the talk, and walking the walk.
(As per the pretty picture of one of my favourite Cambridge riverside walks!)
I’m glad to say Creative Warehouse is doing well, and helping more and more great businesses and organisations get their message across.
That’s whether it’s with websites, media coverage, pitching for investment and customers, or anything in the world of words.
But, as ever in life, there’s always a but.
And as director, the but, or buck, stops with me… as the old saying goes.
We’ve got a terrific designer, one of the best I’ve ever worked with...
But the volume of work we're dealing with meant we needed another.
I put the word around, got a few recommendations and some really good applicants.
Ultimately, it came down to two potential designers.
Both had great experience and really impressive portfolios.
Both were very personable and pleasant, and would make excellent additions to the team.
There was nothing really to distinguish them.
But here comes the difference between the talk and the walk.
I insist Creative Warehouse has a complete customer focus.
We don't just go the extra mile, we go several.
In our view, the customer is not just King, but Emperor, and Deity as well.
So I asked both our potential new recruits their view on the importance of customer focus.
One gave a decent answer about how it was critical for any good business which wants to thrive.
The other had a different response.
He started off by saying it was critical, and then went on to add…
- That’s why he had stayed up all night one time last week, because a good client had an urgent need and he was never going to let them down.
He got the job, right then and there.
Because anyone can talk the talk, far fewer can walk the walk.
Which is well worth bearing in mind any time you’re trying to make a good impression.
Don’t just say you can do it. Show you can do it.