☕ The Starbucks Lesson: What Do You REALLY Sell?
I was having a coffee with my wife Sharon at Starbucks, and we got talking about Howard Schultz, the CEO. He said something in a memo to Starbucks partners that I absolutely love: "We're not in the coffee business serving people. We're in the people business serving coffee." Wow. Just think about that for a moment. What Do You Really Sell? This got me thinking about our businesses. Not what we DO, but what we really SELL. Consider these examples: Holiday Company → Not hotel beds → Really sells: DREAMS Bookseller → Not words → Really sells: ESCAPES Restaurant → Not food → Really sells: MEMORIES Wouldn't it change the way you market if you thought this way? The Hidden Benefit Ted Nicholas once told me about what he called "the hidden benefit" the second-level benefit that's deeper than first imagined. This isn't just about features and benefits. It goes much deeper than that. I wrote in my notes: "The idea is far more stretching than just features and benefits. It's like a twirling, swirling whirlpool, deeper than first imagined." My Example Part of my business is: I help people write, create and market informational products, grow their fees, and get properly rewarded for the positive difference they make. But what do I really sell? Significance. That might seem strange. But when I know I sell significance, doesn't it change the way I market it? Real World Application When I was doing some work in Hong Kong, I was advised by Chinese people living there that perhaps the second-level benefit for that audience was RESPECT. So I wrote the copy focusing on respect, not on the amount of money somebody might make. It worked brilliantly. Your Challenge Take some time, some precious, precious time, to think about your business. What is it that you really do? Not the WHAT... but the deeper WHAT. What hidden benefit do your clients actually buy? Share your thoughts below 👇 What do YOU really sell?