Want to Make Money in Your Business? Give Things Away for Free
Image by Mr.TinDC
I was just listening to a podcast with Pat Flynn and Anthony Vennare where Pat Flynn told a story about a time that he went to Chipotle, ordered his burrito and when he reached the register, he realized that he had forgotten his wallet.
What was Chipotle’s response?
“Just take it. Don’t worry about it.”
Pat Flynn kept saying, “I’ll go home and get my wallet,” but the Chipotle employee insisted that he just take his food for free.
Giving away food to people who forget their wallets may seem like a quick way to get taken advantage of, but it tends to do the exact opposite.
Pat Flynn proceeded to eat at that Chipotle every day that week. They may have lost the money for the one burrito, but they gained much, much more:
- Pat went and ate there almost every day that week because he was so grateful
- He told all of his friends
- He shared it on his podcast which currently has over 11 million downloads
- It has further solidified his respect for the brand
- I’m sharing this story with my connections, spreading it further
Smart businesses are not ruled by the bottom line alone. They can show their human side and develop connections with customers.
The bottom line: developing connections with your customers is very good business.
