Unless you have been under a rock for the past 5 years, you know that today’s new economy is a result of a few businesses’ disregard for value and damaging focus on profits. Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. Businesses have to turn a profit, otherwise it isn’t a business. There is nothing wrong with turning a profit but the question is, at what expense?

This is the sad thing about today’s business world – profits by any means. Truly, any means. Quality, value, and customer care are just a few of the things that are compromised in pursuit of profits. The new economy customer is not having it. During times of economic uncertainty, customers tend to be more cautious of how and where they spend their hard earned money. If they are going to part with their money that the labored during the past two weeks for, it has to be for a good reason…in some cases, a very good reason.

This brings me to this week’s topic, having and maintaining a value proposition.

I will put this as bluntly as I possibly can…Your products and services should provide customers with value that they cannot obtain anywhere else! Your products or services should change their lives for the better otherwise you are not providing them with any value. Business is a relationship and like any other successful relationship there has to be an exchange of value. The customer is providing you with money and you are providing with a solution. Hopefully, your solutions transcends the typical solutions for those within your niche or industry. Here is the interesting thing about value proposition. The more value you can provide, the more money people are willing to spend. You see, what you have to realize is that you are not in business for yourself. Sure, you are your own boss but the reality is that without your customers you are not in business at all. So in a sense, your customers are your boss, if you would. Flow with me now. Before you became a business owner or entrepreneur, you had to answer to someone – your boss. You did what you had to do – work hard, well and with integrity; providing value to the organization – to find favor with them. Don’t you have to do the same thing with your customers?

Let’s take this a step further. As Christians, we answer to the Most High King and we must provide an account of our actions. We must show how we were of value to Him and the Kingdom of God. I know that this is a bit much to swallow. Thinking of your customers as your boss is a bit of a hit to the ego. But humility can go a very long way. Even if you do not agree with this viewpoint, you must agree that to have a long, prosperous, and successful business life you must provide value to your customers.

Another group that we need to consider providing value to is our employees. “But Ralph, I gave them a job! What more do I need to do!” Again, business owners and entrepreneurs are solution providers. Providing a solution to your customers is not the extent of your solution providing skills. It shouldn’t be, as God has placed a great responsibility in your hand by anointing you with the skills, abilities, and opportunities to be a business owner and entrepreneur.

Consider this, Sam has been coming into work late for the past week. Every time you see him, you can see the weight of the world on his shoulders. This is unlike Sam but you have a very strict policy about being late. You have even over heard your other employees gossiping about Sam’s stranger behavior and the potential of him getting fired.

Now as the business owner, you have at least two choices. You can fire Sam – which will most likely cause him more problems – or you can communicate with Sam one-on-one to see if you can solve his problems. Which one would you choose?

Hopefully, you would choose the second option. Although this choice and this example may seem simple, it drives my point home. Providing value to your employees, simply means being more than just an employeer. You don’t have to cross employeer / employee relationship boundaries by doing so but simply being a caring supervisor.

So back to Sam. Once you had your one-on-one with Sam you discovered that he is a new father and has had long nights with his newborn son. You and Sam agreed on a new work schedule that would help him take care of both his home and work responsibilities. This has helped your company meet its expectations to its customers and has helped Sam get some long overdue rest. All in all, it is a win-win for everyone.

As business owners and entrepreneurs we are problem solvers. We have a particular anointing from God to find solutions where others don’t. We see where value is lacking in the lives of our customers, employees, and community and we fill it with transcending value for the good of everyone that we come in contact with. If this isn’t something that you are doing today, I encourage you to take a long hard look at your business and develop how you can provide transcending value to all.