The F in Business

No, it's not that. And it's not 'fail' or 'forecasting.' And it is not 'free capital' or even 'fortune.'

The F, in this case, stands for 'feeling' {gasp}.

This word is so powerful, that it manages to complicate life in infinite ways, then it has the audacity to complicate business, too. You maybe have heard, "I've got a feeling that this is going to be big, let's act now!" How great is it to forge ahead on a project because your gut says so (knowing that your research and facts are in your back pocket, of course)? But how about, "Tell me how you're feeling after hearing that decision." Hmm. Do you really want to know the answer to that?

'Feeling' is a slippery slope in business. My career's countless Myers-Briggs exercises has led me to the conclusion that what makes business complicated is The F. That's what I call it...The F. The F of any Myers-Briggs profile brings feeling into decisions, and who has time for all that drama and emotion? Bleh...right? Wrong.

It brings to mind a favorite movie moment of mine from A League of Their Own, where the coach of the Peaches, Jimmy Dugan, glares at Evelyn, one of his players, and yells, "Are you crying? There's no crying in baseball?" To Coach Jimmy, baseball is a business. You play to win. So get out there and do what it takes. But to outfielder-Evelyn, she's playing with a full range of emotions; the love of the game, the joy of her friendships, the sadness in the absence of her husband away at war, and the disappointment when she is reprimanded by her coach.

But without the love and the joy, the sadness and disappointment where would business be without The F? Sunk.

I love The F. The F is one of the best secret weapons anyone can have in their business arsenal. Here's why:

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelo

For example, think of the last time you traveled. How was your service? How were the interactions you met along the way? Were you delighted when you were greeted at the counter? Were you excited that your Uber driver was awesome and provided you with a great recommendation for dinner? How about at that restaurant, when your server called you by your first name (not once, but the entire night, as though you had been friends forever)? It's The F! We need The F in business!

The places I want to visit again and again, albeit a destination or a retailer, are the places where The F prevailed, and where I captured a story for my experience collection. Providing an amazing experience is the first step in creating that loyal customer.

Find those people who proudly boast The F in business, and your brand loyalty will soar. Invest in The F. The F is awesome.

About the featured photo: This photo was taken on the grounds of a vineyard at Round Ponds Estate near Sonoma, California, after getting to know our host Caleb. After introducing himself to us, he could tell we were still in big city mode. So after some friendly banter, he made an impression when he told us it was time to slow down, enjoy a glass of wine and "chill the @#$% out." We spent the evening winding down, and at sunset, Caleb invited us to descend the stairs to the grounds of the estate where he offered to give us a tour and take our photos. We stayed until the very end, and I cannot wait to return.

Originally published on Amanda's LinkedIn page, May 25, 2016