Learn From Your Customers – Bill Gates

I just wanted to share this little graphic of Bill Gates and his inspirational quote: “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”

It’s so common sense but so many people refuse to believe it. Unless your ego is so huge that you think you do everything right, then sure, I guess you could argue all day against it. But, if you believe that no one is perfect, that not all people are the same, and that there is always room for improvement, then you’d agree with this statement.

The purpose of products and services is to solve one or more of society’s problems. And society is made up of people – all different kinds of people – people from different walks of life. Society is the best testing ground to learn what works and what doesn’t.

Unfortunately, when you created your product or service, you mainly used your own thoughts, feelings and experiences to put it together. You may think you have the perfect product or service, but others may find flaws in it. Your customers, the ones who have actually tried out your product or service will help you learn more about the world and how your product or service will best work to serve it.

It’s about psychology. It’s about how you can shape and mold your product or service into something valuable and useful for your customers.

Of course, there are some business owners who don’t care about user/customer experience and just want to make money. Well, if that’s their attitude toward running a business, then chances are they won’t make it too far. I believe this applies to life as well.