CEG/BDC Monthly Luncheon - Start With Why

Speaker, Dr. Shelley Prevost
Director of Happiness & Resident Cultural Engineer at Lamp Post Group

This past November, I had the chance to visit Zappos headquarters in Vegas, an online shoe retailer. The last night of the trip, I had the chance to meet Tony Hsieh, their famously happy CEO.

He told me, "Happiness is our business model. We believe that making our employees happy is our most important job. If they're happy, then they'll turn around and make our customers happy. Our mission is to deliver happiness. We just happen to sell shoes."

Hsieh is very clear about his WHY. What he does matters very little. If it weren't shoes, he would be doing something else to fulfill hi mission and vision - to spread happiness.

Most businesses earn a loyal customer base by telling people what their company does and then convincing people, via sales techniques or marketing strategies, to use their product or service. The vast majority of businesses make appeals to our rational brains by trying to sell us on data, features, or price points.

Practical? Yes. But, hardly inspiring. And, certainly, not the best way to galvanize masses of people to become loyal customers.

Successful businesses know this - People don't buy what you do. They buy why you do it.

In order to communicate your values and beliefs, you have to first learn what they are. In this workshop, you will grapple with the question, "Why does my business exist?" This simple question prompts you to momentarily push aside your logic (and spreadsheets), dig deep into your personal values, and build a cohesive story about your company that starts with Why.

Class exercises and discussion will help you discover your Why. Once discovered, you will then begin to build out how your business operates, and what you offer to customers or clients. Alignment between these elements creates authenticity, which breeds loyalty.

***SPACING IS LIMITED!!***
RSVP at the Front Desk in the BDC or
via email: terickson@chattanoogachamber.com