Treat others how you want to be treated. If you’re like me, you’ve probably heard that before over and over again, but I think it applies to our business way more than we realize.

Okay, so before I dive in, I want to tell you all a story.

A couple months after Michael and I got married this past summer, we decided to go on a little midday date. We both had nothing going on that afternoon, and it was a beautiful sunny day. We decided to bike down the street to one of our favorite ice cream shops (we were pretty excited, because we had just moved in to an apartment that was right down the street from this shop).

Like I said, we were biking. Once we got up close to the building, we were slowly making our way to lock our bikes up on the bike rack out in front.

Right before we get to the bike rack (in front of the ice cream shop), two store managers are attempting to take a piece of furniture outside the front door to put it in one of their cars.

I immediately stop to let them go ahead, but one of the managers insists I go first. I am still on my bike, y’know, doing that half-waddle thing that’s not quite pedaling anymore. Haha :) The other manager mutters under her breath that we shouldn’t be biking on the sidewalk. We ignore it, decide to let it go and show grace, and we get past them and start to lock up our bikes. But we’re a little uneasy as they’re loading the furniture in the car next to us.

As we were finishing locking up our bikes, they had finished up putting the furniture in the car and at that point, one of the managers stops in front of us, looks us in the eye, and tells us how it’s wrong to bike in the sidewalk and that there’s a reason you’re supposed to bike in the road (in not as kind of a way).

We were both a little stunned to say anything, and she walks off. At that point, the only thing Michael and I said or did was turn to each other, and agree we no longer wanted to get ice cream there anymore that day.

And to be honest, we haven’t been back since.

Maybe she was having a bad day… Something else was probably actually bothering her that morning. We probably shouldn’t have been biking on the sidewalk that close to the building, but regardless, our options were limited in arriving at the shop…

Since that day, instead of going to one of our favorite ice cream shops down the street (a 2 minute drive from our apartment), we would rather drive 15 more minutes one way to the next closest ice cream shop (that’s another one of our favorites).

That is how powerful your actions can influence your business, positively or negatively. Whether we like it or not, we are being watched when we are out and about, whether we’re actually on the job or not.

This is part of the reason why I believe it’s so SO important to treat everyone with kindness, love, grace, and care, especially when you’re not being paid to do so. And NOT from a motive that’s self-serving, but that’s self-giving. Not from a standpoint of trying to make yourself look good, but simply to do good to others.

With this, I also want to point out that not everyone is perfect. We are going to make mistakes. We might not always put someone else before us, or hold our tongue when we need to. But for me personally, I believe in showing those around me the love and joy that flows out because of the love Jesus has for me. Showing that, more often than not, comes from Him showing it through me and not of my own strength. And from the standpoint of a business owner, you do carry a greater responsibility, because there can be greater consequences for the way you treat others, whether in a good or bad way.

Especially in this business we run, everything is even more personal than an ice cream shop. If you market personally like I do, you are the face of your business and you are your brand. Having a genuine heart for others and extending more grace than they deserve will grow your business more than you could ever imagine. You never know when someone is watching you serve someone else in a small way, out of the kindness of your heart- and in turn, that reflects in how they view your business.

I encourage you today to extend way more grace, love, care, kindness, and goodness than anyone deserves, even in the small things. It will go a long way. :)