What Does “Going The Extra Mile” Mean And How Do I Get There?

If you want a successful career in any industry, then you must have a “going the extra mile” attitude. What does that mean?

It means don’t just assist people with what you only have to do. Do more than is what expected, as they will never forget and always want to do business with you.

People like to be treated as a person, not as a dollar sign. If you sincerely care about the person, the dollars will chase after you. If you focus on the money, you will be chasing it forever.

When you go the extra mile for people, you will reduce your competition and keep a lasting relationship with them.

When people are dissatisfied with your service, it is very difficult to get them back. It is how you treat them and handle their issues that makes all the difference to them. That is where the famous “the customer is always right” expression developed from decades ago. Without pleasing your customers, your career never will flourish.

Even if the customer is wrong, you must size up the situation and determine whether he or she is worth keeping. Would you rather be right, or would you rather be happy? Keep your client extra-satisfied, and your career will progress rapidly.  

I recall when I worked for a company that had the attitude of “money first, service later,” and I was always in disagreement with them. Sure, they were doing well, but there was always trouble in the company between employees and management, which usually was passed on to their clients.

Interestingly, when I put in my resignation, my clients eventually moved on to the company’s competitor. In only a few short years, this company was in financial trouble.

Strangely enough, the next company I worked for had the same attitude. It was no surprise to me that they had been trying to expand their business for years, but had been unsuccessful.

Their theory was it was the employees’ fault that the company was unable to grow. Therefore, they had constant staff turnover. After I put on my running shoes and left to work for yet another company, I heard that nothing at all had changed with them; they still were trying, in vain, to grow the company. Needless to say, I did find a company “went the extra mile” for its customers and clients, and my department has grown threefold.

Never underestimate the power of going the extra mile, and never over-estimate the power of the almighty dollar.

When you do the unexpected and go out of your way to please, your customers unexpectedly will provide referrals without you even asking.

I frequently have been given referrals, and I never have asked for them directly. They like to share good customer service with other people they know so those people will benefit as well. Believe me when I say good news travels slowly, but bad news travels fast. As soon as you receive the referrals, all you need to do is contact them and say, “So-and-so asked me to give you a call because they thought you might like to experience the same benefits they are.”

List the benefits for them, and your chance of receiving new business should be quite high. You will say to yourself, “This process is easy, and I love the results I am getting.” Go the extra mile and see how fast your career will advance.

And do it with an enthusiastic attitude, and you will get there even faster!!

Have you ever been alongside someone who is highly enthusiastic? It’s very contagious, isn’t it? Strive to be that person. It invigorates your body and creates excitement in your career’s daily activities that easily can become mundane if you allow them to do so.

Routine is what we are made of, and we cannot possibly get away from it. But we can stop it from being boring to us and, even worse, boring to other people. But how do we do that? We perform our duties as if we are doing them for the very first time.

I was a professional singer/pianist for more than twenty five years. Let me tell you, I performed six nights a week, singing the most requested songs of the time every single night, sometimes twice in a night. When calculated, it means that I sang each song approximately 7,000 times during a twenty-five period.

I was well-renowned for my live performances because I was exciting to watch and had incredible enthusiasm. I always was in demand and often performed at the same venue for more than two or three years. How did I keep my audience captivated and coming back to see me entertain again and again? I sang and played as if I was performing those songs for the first time.

I saw many of my colleagues sing and play in venues as if they had played the tunes over and over again (probably 7,000 times). It was very boring to watch, and everyone in the room looked bored as well. I decided then and there that if I had to play audience-requested songs over and over again, I would play them as if it was the first time.

The incredible enthusiasm that came from me and my songs created such excitement that I constantly was asked to return, but I always was booked out in advance. I believe the people just wanted to be around enthusiastic and exciting people, and that is what I created in my music and performance.

Can you imagine if you had the same attitude in your chosen job or business? How you would be successful? You would attract more business, better opportunities and enjoy your day much more than you would otherwise. No employer would let you go if you were excited about your job and attracting customers. You would be more valuable to them if you stayed. And if they did not see this, then you are with the wrong company.