The business of getting along (Saturated Market)

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The business of getting along

Strategy I've always been amused by people who talk about books that can improve your business AND personal life, or make metaphors between casual social interaction and business in order to improve one or the other. Not because it's ridiculous, but because it should be obvious. The reason so many life lessons translate well to business and vice versa is because business is just another form of social interaction, just like talking to a friend or writing a letter to a relative.

Really, business is just being social with the goal of persuading. Sales are just a conversation. Direct mail is just a letter. TV ads are just a play. Sure, each has its own rules that define them and set standards and guidelines, but the same can be said for any type of social interaction. In a sales call, you need to be professional and address the needs of the buyer. On a date you need to be polite and showcase yourself as an interesting person. At church you need to be reserved and follow the sermon. At a football game you need to be loud and energetic. And so on, and so on, and so on.

This is why social media has been such a hit with businesses. Why copywriters are starting to do work for individuals. Why the popular self-help books are snapped up by CEOs and regular Joes alike.

It's certainly not helpful to treat your life like a business, nor should you throw conventional wisdom out the window and run your business according to how you run your family. But it's simple to see that many of the same principles apply. I think we need to start recognizing that perhaps these two different spheres of life aren't so different after all.

Until next time,