Serving is one of those principles that builds character and reputation.   A successful businessperson is one who understands the importance of service as well as their role in the community.  The valuable lesson to learn here is that real return only ever comes to does who have an honest call to be of service in their families, communities and business.

When a problem with a customer arises, who gets the blame? Who does the sales person pint the finger at?  Most at the time it is everyone but himself or herself, perhaps they need to look at themselves in the first place. In the majority of cases the sales person’s relationship with the customer is the root at of the problem. The challenge is that we see the world only from our own perspective and not as it really is.  This can be true for any relationship; this is where understanding comes into play.

Serving is important for many reasons, such as your ability to form effective relationships with customers, family members, co-workers, really everyone you encounter in your life.

Serving others is investing in your reputation. When you are perceived as someone who is there to serve, then trust will follow, along with your ability to attract customers and customer loyal. Serving at its root means you set aside your own desires, your own needs and seek to fulfill the interest of others. Throw manipulation tactics and other sales theories out the door. The only way you will become and maintain success in your life and be personally fulfilled is by serving, helping and meeting others needs.  It is moving your perspective away from what you want to serve legitimate needs.

Serving is about doing little things each day. You can't be perceived as being someone who is only there to serve with one action.  It is going to take a bunch of small actions over time that is going to build your character.

The following are five actions you can begin to master to expand your own ability to serve other people

1. Be humble. "Humility is not thinking of yourself less, it is about thinking about yourself less." Think about that.  Being humble is about being authentic instead of about pride or arrogance, which many times are simply a cover-up for fear and uncertainty in your own life.  Everyone has two big fears "what if I am not good enough?" and "what if I fail?" Being humble may sound easy but it is harder to put into action in everyday life unless you focus on it every day

2. Be respectful. Respect others and treat everyone as though they are important.  Everybody wants to feel important, liked and appreciated. You never know whom you are going to meet in public or in a meeting.  Being respectful means being on time for meetings.  If you are late then people assume that you do not respect there time or that you don't perceive them as important enough. Being respectful also means that you don't interrupt others when they are speaking, no matter how important you think your idea is. Treat others with the same respect you would want from them. You probably learned all this in your youth but the question is; how good are you at it?

3. Be honest. Trust is built through your ability to be honest with others. Honesty is not being blunt. It is not about telling them exactly what you think or about being rude, or hurting people feelings.  If you don't know the difference between being blunt or honest then refer back to Being Humble and Being Respectful.  Being honest means your consistent, transparent, fair and predictable. You must be truthful in all your communications while maintaining awareness at how you are perceived by others. Being honest also means sharing the whole truth and not sharing just "what must be disclosed".

4. Be Kind.  Being kind is about being appreciative and being encouraging to others. Treat others the way that you want to be treated. People who are kind actively listen when other people speak, they are sincere and caring, look for the good in others, let others know they are appreciated.

When giving compliments the secret is to be very specific.  For example, "I really appreciate how you handled the call from our top customer last Friday.”  The Kindness you show others will be reflected beak to you and to others they encounter.  It has a snowball effect, multiplying but it all starts with one action, one small gesture that could begin with you.  Don't wait to receive kindness first before you return it, just give kindness.

5. Be committed.  This is the one that most people want to do but don't. In business there is this saying,  "Everyone want to be valued, but no one wants to be committed.” Think about it! Everyone wants to be involved if they think the results will be a successful but no body wants to be involved or committed if they are going to have to take responsible for the result if it is not successful. Being committed is about sticking to the choices you make, good or bad.  It is about doing what is right, not taking the popular choice or what other people might approve of. Commitment is about the best you can be for your customer, your company, your family but most importantly yourself. Being committed means creating goals for yourself and following through with them no matter the consequences.

6. Say Please Thank You. Say it as often as you can and more importantly mean it every time you do it.

As you incorporate these actions into your life, your stock value will rise, you'll be seen as a trusted friend, customers will come to you with their problems, they will even refer other people to you. The beautiful part is that you will start growing a meaningful business by creating meaningful relationships and loyal customers for the life.

Serving others is not about launching how to make more money, instead think about how to apply serving and giving into everyday life. A by-product of serving will make you more sales only if it is done in an authentic and sincere way. Some sales people don't see this as a step that is going to lead them to more profit and loyal customers.  However by diligently performing the every day actions of serving you are going to open up to doors to success and achievement.

Try focusing on one of the five actions each week for the next five weeks. For example, if you choose to focus on being humble for the whole week think at how you can become more humble and when you speak to somebody think; “am I being humble when I say this.”

One of the best way to serve others is by donating your time and skills to the community, serving is all about the one on one action, the small acts of kindness that you can do each day

Think of a skill you already have, what are you really passionate about? Maybe you are good at painting or carpentry or accounting or you love animals. Find something. All non-profit organizations are always looking for help in different areas and if you are good at accounting you maybe able to donate a small part of your time helping an organization clean up their books or help with their taxes but, if you are really good at carpentry the-maybe you can help a family by making repairs on their home. There are so many people out there that need help and there is no better way to learn humility than by serving others who are worse off than you.

You’re accountable for the use at your time and resources. How are you using yours? People spent their whole lives in their own day-to-day activities. They forget what they are really living or working for.  Instead they get lost in the work.  They forget what they have and are lucky for the position they are in. They forged the value of what they have. Look for ways in which you can serve others, how you can help others.  The most fulfilled people have purpose, and being able to serve other not only gives you a purpose but it helps others to find success.