How would you describe yourself? A professional? A politician? A business person? A labourer? An artist?

Most of my friends, are either professionals, politicians, business people, labourers or artists. What they all have in common is that they CARE about other people. They express their care & concern for others in their own unique way but in my opinion their level of success is in direct correlation to how much they CARE.

I tried to explain to my inner-city students ( teenagers who still believe it is "uncool" to smile) that in simple terms, business is about providing what others need & want at a price they are willing to pay. As these needs & wants are so changeable, what distinguishes an outstanding business person from the mundane is their ability to ascertain the current mood and desires of the people they wish to serve.

As an example, for decades we have had Life Assurance companies competing for our attention. Even though I have a mortgage, I had refused to succumb to the constant pressure of these companies "pretending" to care about what happens to my wealth when I am dead or critically ill. Yesterday, I read an article mentioned in Andrew Wilmot’s blog several months ago: Cheaper Life Cover for Vegetarians

The Animal Friends Insurance company not only gives a 6% discount to vegetarians (as we are expected to live much longer without risk of heart attacks, cancer etc)…but this company gives away 100% of their net profit for pet insurance to animal charities. Now there’s a business model that leads by *caring* rather than fear.

This company did not have to cold-call me to sell their policy. It was openly, publicly recommended by an entrepreneur who obviously cares enough to share this information. If you are already connected with Andrew Wilmot you will know that his business is built around caring about people’s health. His blog however, was not about leading me to his OWN business, but to one that I happened to be looking for.

Thanks to Andrew’s care & concern, I bought my very first Life Assurance policy and am glad that being a vegetarian for 28 years has eventually paid dividends! It is going to cost me about £20 per month compared with around £60 for a traditional Life Assurance cover.

How do you express your care and concern for others? When I see my budding entrepreneur students on Monday, I think I’ll have to remind them that a simple smile will do! :)

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