By Larry Bitner 

“Take nothing for granted! Make no assumptions! And never leave a stone unturned! Larry shares his thoughts on turning your curiosity into customers, self confidence and cash flow…” _______________________________________________________________________________  

What does it take to successfully market your product, your company or yourself in today’s competitive world of business? Just think of the opportunities that could present themselves if you had the answer!  While the question itself tends to be very broad and all encompassing, there are a variety of answers that could definitely have an impact on your success.  Some common responses include self confidence and an exceptional product.

Many will suggest that good communication skills are essential for success in marketing today. None of these answers are incorrect however one response that will impact them all in a positive way is an “inquisitive” nature. To be inquisitive and analytical in business involves that burning curiosity to understand how and why. To take nothing for granted. We all understand that confidence is important, but how can you truly acquire it, where does it come from?

Customers look for and expect an exceptional product, but it’s what constitutes uniqueness, quality and value in the mind of a consumer that will position us to more effectively provide a product that exemplifies it. An inquisitive nature provides a competitive advantage. In our busy world it is far too easy to simply take things at face value which unfortunately does little to promote understanding.  

As a youth, I always loved to pull things apart to better understand how they worked but somewhere along the way I lost that. And then a while back I came to recognize that the older that I got, the more reluctant I had become to ask for help or direction, after all, I figured with age, experience and education I should now have all of the answers. What a load of pressure to place on oneself in a world that is constantly changing! I had somehow misplaced that inquisitive nature that had once so accurately defined what I was all about. So I began to ask questions.

The more I asked, the more I learned and the more I learned, the more confident I became to make better choices, solve problems and provide solutions which in the process led to countless opportunities. This change of attitude about who I was and how much I should know opened incredible doors and provided remarkable results in my career.  

My rediscovered inquisitive approach has made me more innovative as well. My commitment to gathering new information helps me identify ways of putting a new spin on old concepts that my clients have come to take for granted, often making them more efficient and competitive. 

As a marketer, it is important to not allow yourself to be satisfied just knowing how consumers behave – how they spend their time and money. It is critical to understand why because “why” provides the real solutions to success.  

Larry Bitner is a Certified Business Counselor, trainer and speaker. For more information, he can be reached at 905-704-9747 or visit his website at www.larrybitner.com.