Just remember we're all one big, happy family!

During the holidays many businesses go crazy promoting buying their stuff. I have been getting at least one email a day from several companies trying to get me to buy something from them this holiday season.

Here in the west it seems that the holidays have turned into a buying frenzy with everyone, especially children, coming up with more and more elaborate and expensive gifts they expect to receive.

The true dollar signs for businesses are in repeat customers. I received some great words of wisdom from my sister recently. She’s been extremely successful in the real estate business and if it wasn’t for her focus on her customers she’d have succumbed like to many.

She said ultimately it is not the money that matters, it is the people. You must love being with people. You need to treat each customer as if they are a part of your family. Older people are your parents or grand parents; younger your kids or nieces and nephews; same age your sister or brother. You must remember their names and important information about them like birthdays, birth of a child, etc.

When I was visiting her recently she was having some hardwood floors installed for her by one of her customers whose extended family had bought 26 houses from her over the years. Not only that he helped her out with some problems with her rental house and took it upon himself to find and deliver a working stove and fridge so that she could get it rented out quicker.

Now that’s real business. Seeing the whole world as your family and treating them as you would want to be treated. Then the dollars come without the hype.

May you have a blessed holiday season filled with bliss, love, health and prosperity.