Some words are tossed around easily and used in advertising unsparingly.  It takes the power away from them because they are seen so often they are dismissed as just more noise.  In thinking about that, I thought about the word Dedication.  My team and I are dedicated to our clients, but what does that really mean?  How do you know we are dedicated?  Is that a description of a business person that you’d like to work with?

Dedication According to Webster

Webster’s Dictionary defines dedication as self sacrificing devotion.  Wow!  That’s pretty heavy duty.  Soldiers are dedicated to our protection.  That’s the first thought that comes to my mind.  Firefighters who ran into the towers on September 11, 2001 were dedicated.  They saved a lot of people through their dedication and many of them lost their lives - self sacrificing.  Most people are dedicated and devoted to their children.  So does the word dedication belong in business?

Dedication in Business

To me, dedication in business is putting your clients’ needs first.  In a retail setting that would mean providing excellent service, going the extra step, and being available to assist customers skillfully when they need help.  In a professional service industry, such as accounting, financial advice, lending, banking, real estate, law, among others, it means providing the fiduciary service to the client that has been promised to them by commitment of the professional to their industry.

In my business, it is doing the absolute best for your client by providing advice, service, and skill that helps them achieve the goal they have set for themself.  Being dedicated also means being truthful upfront so the client knows what to expect throughout the process.  In other words, helping them avoid the unexpected by being diligent, knowlegeable, and communicative.  Better get out the dictionary, we are loading up on big words here!  But it all comes down to 2 words - dedication means acting with integrity and ethics.  That is the type of professional I want to work with - one who is dedicated.  They always rise to the top because they don’t know any other way to be - being dedicated is in their genes.

Happy New Year and Welcome to 2010!  Tear off your rear view mirror and start driving with purpose.  I am very excited about the new year.  I have plans for myself and my business.  Real written plans.  Do you?  So I have my map and I’m going to use it to get to December 31, 2010 and applaud what occurred during the year.  I spent a few minutes reading through some old posts on my blog and I realized that one theme came through - be positive and believe in yourself.  Yes, that can sound trite, but if you don’t have a vision of where you will be 12 months from now, you will be in the same place or worse.  I plan to be in a better place even though I’m pretty happy with where I’m at now.  Success builds on success.  Let’s all have a plan for success in 2010.  Join me.  I’ll be waiting at the finish line next December with a glass of champagne in my hand.  How about you?  If you need a little motivation, just come back here and start reading.  We’ll keep the positive vibes coming for you.