“To give real service, you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.” Donald Adams.

What an incredible quote! Have you ever worked for a boss (or a whole company) whose policy was “win at all costs”? Lie about the competition. Or even worse, lie about the product you’re selling! I had that experience for a short time working in a real estate office in Colorado that was doing land sales. They offered a 3 day 2 night stay to come up to the mountains and look at land for that ‘summer cabin’ etc etc. Except that the sales people would out and out lie about the size of the property the people were being shown – indicating that two lots were actually one lot… Once I realized what was going on, and that it was done with the knowledge and blessing of the broker, I had to get out. My personal integrity wouldn’t let me keep working there.

Integrity is an integral part of business. Without it, our words are meaningless. It is part and parcel of “treat the customer right”. Treat the customer the way YOU want to be treated. You don’t want to be lied too. You don’t want to be misled. What makes you think that your customer / client / family member or friend wants to be deceived? I can think of nothing that is more damaging to a person or business’s credibility than intentional mis-information. I am a strong believer in the spiritual principle of cause and effect / karma / what goes around comes around. No matter what you call it I have seen situations often enough in my life to know the concept is real and functioning. We may think we’re getting away with something ‘now’; however life has a way of catching up to us. It is also a lot of work to remember all those ‘little white lies’ and what you told to whom :-) Consequently I adhere to the “KISS” principle – Keep It Simple Silly. For me, I believe that living your life in truth is imperative.

Author's Bio: 

Heidi McCarthy has been customer focused her whole life, getting a good orientation in her first job working as waitress while putting herself through college. After college she worked in the corporate arena for 8 years where she learned the ins and outs of working in a corporate culture including customer service working with and traveling to clients across North America. Next she worked with her husband in his salvage diving business where dealing with the “rich and famous” taught her much about people’s expectations. Running a consulting business she started working with Custom Training Institute. The consulting soon became a full time job, where she became the General Manager and Director of Operations. This job showed Heidi the immense need for what has become her specialty niche – customer service in the electronic universe.

Additionally, Heidi has the ability of being able to see holes in systems that on the surface look to be good and solid. And, she loves to teach – to share what she has learned .

Heidi’s passion for excellence in business caused her to found Toughest Customer, where today she helps companies grow and retain customers through improved customer service and extreme client care.