I am a huge fan of the word “resource”. To me, it stands for trustworthy, knowledgeable, reliable, and dedicated. All aspects of your personality that are incredibly noteworthy no matter what role you have within retail- shop owner, buyer, planner, merchant, designer, etc.
If I think back to all of my roles within corporate, my main goal was to be a resource for my current boss. I wanted to make sure that I knew my business in and out, and if there was ever a question that came up during a meeting, they knew I was reliable enough to answer it. Which is what I want for all of you- whether you are just starting out or about to launch your own business.
Here’s the thing… You never want to be known as a sales pitch. You want to be the one who let’s your work speak for itself versus highlighting it for co-workers. You want to be the one who is efficient and collaborative, not the one over-selling and under-delivering. Why? Because at the end of the day, no matter how many products you sell, presentations you do, meetings you attend, or Facebook ads you send out- what matters most is the value and integrity of your actions.
For shop owners, it’s fulfilling the promise you made to consumers- whether that’s in the form of friendly service, quality product, on-time delivery, or the in-store experience. For those of you in corporate it’s about being the "go-to person"- the one others rely on when they themselves don’t know the answer. Which is why becoming an expert in your current role and taking the time to learn about the departments around you is essential. Being "resourceful" involves strong relationships with cross-functional team members and knowing how to best utilize the talents within them.
At the end of the day, I want you to be seen as a trusted source- whether that’s within a corporate environment or as an entrepreneur. I want your customers, peers, and clients to know they have someone they can rely on; someone with integrity. It's never to late to set additional career goals... and being knowledgable, trustworthy, and reliable is a great place to start. Be a resource.
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My hope is that today's article helps you get one step closer to achieving that dream of yours. As I want nothing more than to see you be successful. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or commentary, I would love to hear from you.
