Pete Hanson’s Daily Blog: Shoot Me A Text

A lot of what I do has me communicating on a daily basis with people in other parts of the country. From New York and Arizona, to Billings and Missoula. Phone calls, email, text messages, internet, webinars, (and yes, still faxes from time to time).

Let’s pick Billings. I talk to, email back and forth with, receive texts from colleagues there many times every day. In my mind, its almost as if we all work in the same office here in downtown Bozeman. We’re that connected.

Now, very soon I will be having Lasik eye surgery in Billings. Part of the process is making an advanced trip to the clinic a couple of weeks ahead of time so they can scan, measure, shine bright little lights, dilate your pupils (love that!) and look deep into your eyes to see if you’re a good candidate.

As I was pulling on to I-90 for my two-hour drive last week I had a weird moment. I do business with people in Billings every day in our high-tech, virtual world. It seems like the real world, and in this day and age it is. BUT. It hit me that there are some things that you actually still have to show up for. In person. The ‘old-fashioned’ way. Can’t get my eyes checked on facebook (yet).

Now of course we all know that, but it really hit me for a second. We now spend so much of our life texting, on the phone, on facebook, tweeting, emailing — that we might be taking good old face to face interaction for granted. I think I do. That’s why I had that weird little moment on I-90.

Make sure that you are spending enough real, old-fashioned, in-person time with your customers. See them. Let them see you. Listen. Laugh. Eat. Help. Care. I think if we’re doing it right all the technology should enhance how we used to communicate, not replace it.

And as a friend of mine asks, “Who is your customer?” Then he’s quick with the answer, “Everyone.” Your spouse, your kids, neighbor, co-worker, friend, waiter, librarian, mechanic. “Everyone.”

(And yes, that will be me first in line to pre-order my new iPhone from Verizon on February 3rd.)

via Pete Hanson’s Daily Blog: Shoot Me A Text.