I read an article about supplier excellence this week. It can apply to each of us. Here’s the idea: Everyone on our team has a customer. Some actually pay for products. Others are team members that you serve. Here are things that good service providers do: They teach things that make you better. They know a better-educated consumer appreciates good service. They keep you updated. No surprises. They share business opportunities. They transparently share best

Keith Reinstetle, who leads our multi-site sales efforts, and I were discussing the fragility of customer relationships. “People don’t realize how complex what we do is,” Keith said. “The lumber has to be the right dimension. The species has to be right. We deliver it on time with the right style of trailer. It may have to be dry and must have the right markings. We have to do so many things right.” He continued:

With Commitment #7, we begin to dig deeper… 10 COMMITMENTS No Shortcuts  We will teach you the safe way, provide you safe equipment, fix it when it breaks. Do it right and safe. Safety Freeze  Watch out for others, guide and teach “rookies,” hold others accountable for safe practices. On Time and Quick Start  Be there, start timely. Work Smart – Technique and Consistency  Learn the right techniques and work at a consistent pace. Work

Everybody has a customer. You are accountable to those customers. In a way, they sign your paycheck. You must discern what your customer expects of you and strive to meet those expectations. In fact, your goal should be to exceed them. While it is common to think of the customer as the one who buys our products or services, it is bigger and broader than that. Your customer is often your colleague working next to