A conversation got started at Dawud Miracle’s site not too long ago, about “What Would You Rather Have, Clients or Customers?”

The ensuing conversation completely reframed the way I view people who come in and out of my business. Isn’t it just semantics? Hardly.

The way we orient to an idea will shape how we view it, the identity we give it, and the actions we take in relationship to it.

Practically speaking, the way you orient to your people will shape how you view them (broken, or just confused? helpless, or temporarily stuck? clueless, or just slightly off-target for the moment?). And that will radically influence how you treat them, what you expect from them, and the actions you take concerning them.

In the beginning, before all of this became conscious, I thought of people as customers: people who would buy what I had to offer (think: early jobs in retail sales). Then, it became clients: people who I served and cared for (think: years as a healer). And now, it has evolved into patrons: people whose causes I champion.

The dictionary defines patron as, “One that supports, protects, or champions someone or something, such as an institution, event, or cause; a sponsor or benefactor: a patron of the arts.”

What if you saw the people who came in and out of your business as patrons? Benefactors? Supporters of your visions and ideals? After all, they’re listening to what you have to say, signing up for your offers, and buying your stuff (you hope).

Here’s what the dictionary says about champion: “An ardent defender or supporter of a cause or another person.”

Is that you? Are you championing a cause? Supporting a certain population? Upholding and encouraging a set of shared values? And does that cause your heart to lean towards your people a bit more with compassion and caring?

I’d love to hear how this lands with you.

Image byClive Power.

And thanks to all who have commented on the previous post so far: Wendy Piersall, Ashley Cecil, Jonathan C Phillips, Mona Grayson

© Adam for Adam Kayce, 2007. | Permalink | 15 comments