In this video, I simply want to offer you a reminder: don’t be dumb. And don't go hiring people who are. So, how not to be dumb? By this I mean you need to be attentive to details, know how to follow instructions, and always put effort in what you do so it’s clear that you actually care about it. By just doing the little things that most people aren’t willing to do, you can be great.
When was the last time you were blown away by the service you received? Personally, I feel that I'm rarely wowed nowadays. The level of mediocrity in the world is a huge problem. And I was reminded of this as I went through our latest hiring process.
So here's the situation. We posted a job description with a secret code embedded in it. And along with following the guidelines in the description, the applicants have to share the code with us. This was a way of ensuring that each applicant had read the description and was attentive to details. Pretty basic…yet I still had people asking me on messenger for the secret code.
Follow basic instructions and put effort in what you do. That’s essentially how not to be dumb. I think that the world doesn't owe anyone anything. So always do the basics well, and try to even go beyond! What happened yesterday entitles you to nothing tomorrow. If you feel differently, you’re likely to get complacent.
Here’s the thing. People don’t like to take extra time to do the things that make a difference because that’s not scalable. But I encourage you to do those things anyway. Why? Because they make people (customers or potential employers) feel special. And all people want to feel special. They want to feel like they’re the only person you're talking to.
Whether you’re a business owner or a job applicant, be attentive to details. Put effort. Do a little bit extra. And please…don’t be dumb.
