In this episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Darren delivers a passionate and candid rant about the importance of reliability in business.
He dives into the concept that “how you do anything is how you do everything” and explains how an individual’s repeated failure to show up to meetings reflects poorly on their professional reputation. This episode serves as a reminder for all business owners to respect their commitments and uphold their integrity.
The impact of unreliability in business
Darren begins by introducing a well-known phrase in business: “How you do anything is the way you do everything.” He uses this as a foundation to discuss the frustrations of dealing with unreliable individuals in the business world.
Darren shares a personal experience involving a particular individual who repeatedly failed to attend scheduled meetings, despite confirming their attendance multiple times. Darren emphasises that while missing one meeting might be understandable, consistently failing to show up without any communication sends a clear message to others. It tells everyone involved that the person is not dependable and doesn’t value their time or the opportunity.
The domino effect of disrespecting commitments
Darren expands on the repercussions of this kind of behavior, explaining that when someone repeatedly fails to honor their commitments, it doesn’t just reflect on that one meeting or event; it affects how others perceive them in all aspects of their professional life.
In this case, the individual works in a property-related sector, where reliability is crucial. By not showing up, they are essentially telling potential clients and partners that they cannot be trusted.
Darren argues that this pattern of behavior can irreparably damage a person’s reputation. When someone is unreliable, it makes others hesitant to refer them, work with them, or recommend them to others. In business, reputation is everything, and once trust is broken, it’s incredibly difficult to rebuild.
The importance of consistency and trust
Darren goes on to explain that being consistent and reliable is not just about showing up to meetings—it’s about building trust and credibility. He points out that in networking and business referral circles, which he is heavily involved in, a person’s reputation can make or break their success.
“If you are in business, you need other people to respect you, and you need other people to understand that you are reliable.”
He advises that if someone is unable or unwilling to attend a meeting, it’s better to decline the invitation rather than agree and not follow through. This simple act of honesty can maintain respect and trust, which are vital in any professional relationship.
Conclusion
In this episode, Darren offers a blunt yet crucial reminder about the importance of reliability and consistency in business. His message is clear: if you continually fail to honor your commitments, you are sending a message that you cannot be trusted. For anyone looking to build a successful business, this episode is a wake-up call to evaluate how they conduct themselves in every aspect of their professional life.
Darren wraps up by apologising for the intensity of his rant but reiterates the importance of the message. He hopes that listeners will take this lesson to heart and avoid making the same mistakes.
“If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Do not continually piss people off and let them down because they will never use you, and you will be blackballed from a business standpoint.”
Thank you for tuning into The Engaging Marketeer. Join us in the next episode for a more upbeat discussion, and remember to respect the commitments you make- both in business and in life!
About your host:
Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/
Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com
Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk
