I could probably fill up a whole page with “I Believe…” statements.

I believe… specialty independent retailers need to have better customer service than their competitors.
I believe… cash is king and sometimes more important than profits.
I believe… the store owner who quits trying to learn quits trying to grow.
I believe… what gets measured and rewarded gets improved.
I believe… we need to know and understand the financials of our business inside and out.
I believe… we need to stay true to our core values, but be willing to change everything else
I believe…

What do you believe? I challenge you to write it down. All of it. Take an hour and type up everything that comes to mind. It will be a powerful hour.

But then I’m going to ask you to do something else.

I was reading Drew McClellan’s blog (Drew’s Marketing Minute) and he said this…

“One of the sure signs of a person who is going to be successful is that they wholeheartedly behave in lifelong learning. I didn’t say believe in life long learning because I’ve found just about everyone believes in it. But few actually act upon that belief.”

I have some strong beliefs. But does my behavior match those beliefs? Can I prove it?

Can you prove it?

Write down underneath, next to, or over the top of each of your belief statements the behavior you are actually doing that proves your belief.

I believe specialty independent retailers need to have better customer service than their competitors.
I attend and teach customer service trainings, constantly look for new ways to train my staff on customer service, read books on the topic and explore new ideas and thoughts.

I believe cash is king and sometimes more important than profits.
I get rid of slow-moving merchandise regularly. 

I believe the store owner who quits trying to learn quits trying to grow.
I attend workshops, read books and blogs, and teach (to teach something, you have to learn it deeply first)

I believe what gets measured and rewarded gets improved.
I praise regularly and am implementing new rewards programs in other aspects of the business.

I believe we need to know and understand the financials of our business inside and out.
I run reports at least monthly. I wrote a book on financials for the toy industry. I look at that book frequently.

I believe we need to stay true to our core values, but be willing to change everything else.
I have my core values posted on my wall and use them as a guide for everything we do, including changes for the better.

How does your behavior stack up to your beliefs?

-Phil Wrzesinski
www.PhilsForum.com

PS You don’t have to agree with my beliefs. You are more than entitled to your own. Just live up to them. If your behavior doesn’t match your belief, maybe it isn’t something you actually believe in???