Sell experiences

Jim Nantz, the great sports commentator, had just spent three weeks on the road watching his beloved Houston Cougars. He came to Augusta National tired, with his voice sounding a bit raspy. However, he said driving down Magnolia Lane to the Masters refreshed his soul.

Nantz said that there is something special about Augusta. The world slows down. People are genuinely kind to each other. There is a spirit of generosity and kindness in the air, a feeling like no other, a place like no other.

Having never been to Augusta, his comments were so interesting.

I wonder what it is that makes The Masters and Augusta National so special.

Well, it is “a tradition like no other.” Maybe the history. No cell phones are allowed on the property by the patrons. Could it be technology? Or, could it be that the price of food and beverages has purposely remained low? I guess that is enough to make one kind and generous, as we watch inflation and tariffs. What about the pristine conditions? The azaleas and green meticulous course must be enough to lift anyone’s spirits.

Nantz had trouble describing exactly what Augusta means to him. It seemed more of an experience, and you can’t aptly describe an experience. It is impossible to make one feel what you felt in a particular place or at a particular moment. But, that tells you the depth of experiences.

Experiences reach and move your soul.

What if every time someone interacted with your company, your team, even you, was an experience? Not some grandiose personality that whisks the imagination away with incredible stories. But, simple kindness and generosity. The kind of experience where you feel important, you feel number one, you feel like you mean something to the other person.

This company, this team, this person would flourish, no doubt. They could move mountains, as customers and people would gravitate to them.

Interesting thought.

Sell the simple experience of kindness and generosity. Make the other company, person, feel like they are the most important person in the room. Better than that, simply make them the most important person in the room.

I was with a company yesterday, and they were not happy with their current service provider. The issue wasn’t strategy or analytics or insights, but, in his words, “they don’t care.” Notice his experience.

Flip the script of your company, your team, even you.

Sell experience today, professionally and personally.

Impact others. Live generously.