Back in my “professional networking” days, one piece of advice was always to “big yourself up”. If you were a one-man band, respond to customers as “we” and “our”- give the impression you are a bigger enterprise than you are.
Thankfully, that has turned around. Social Media (love it or hate it) has allowed the personality of an individual to be shown as a strength of a brand, a unique story of a small business is far more inspiring than a generic description of your business.
But, it can be hard to run a small business when life takes over.
In the last five weeks, Neil and I have become first time proud grandparents, lost a beloved mother/mother-in-law, and lost our little dog (Security Manager and Max’s allotment buddy) Bill. The delight and pain is intense in equal measures.
In many ways life has changed beyond all recognition. Trying to get on top of emotions is proving to be more difficult than expected.
It’s easy to be happy with a birth - our grandson is beautiful, with quite the set of lungs on him! Neil’s daughter, and our son-in-law, are the most amazing parents, even with a lack of sleep, and all grandparents are in awe of this new addition to their lives, and how brilliantly their children have taken to parenthood. Its joyous.
There is sadness that he won’t get to meet one of his great-grandmothers, who passed peacefully after a long illness. He will learn of her through photos and recalled events and memories as he gets older. She was a lovely and loving lady.
On our part there is also sadness that he will not get to meet Bill, who was both the brightest and dimmest dog in equal parts. He was the best dog, and is now running wildly with his brother Baxter somewhere over the rainbow bridge, who was also the best dog.
John Stewart (the American presenter and comedian) spoke about losing his dog, Dipper, a few months ago. It’s something I have visited several times this week
I suppose the point of the blog is to say we are all human. We run our businesses as best we can, and aim to offer the best customer service possible - it is the greatest strength of a small family business.
And sometimes you will contact a business, and they will be overspilling with joy because something magnificent has happened in their lives, and they want you to know that; because you matter to them so much, you are on their journey with them, and they want you to exalt with them.
And sometimes you will contact a business, and they may be a little quieter, or apologising because they are a day or so later than expected. They may not be “quite themselves”; because you matter to them so much, you are on their journey with them, and they don’t want to dampen your mood.
Either way, for a small family business, never doubt how much you matter to them. You are like family.
Thank you to everyone for their congratulations and condolences. They are all appreciated.
Maxine and Neil