While I am sure each of us can quickly add to this list of oft-repeated, not-so-helpful platitudes, I’m also sure that each of us can think of the one or two bits of advice that really hit home, changed our perspective, and helped drive us forward, personally or professionally. I’d like to think of Camelot, me, and my newsletter readers as a community. So why not make the most of our community’s shared experiences and pool our tried-and-true advice?

I invite you to write to me personally and share the invaluable advice you have received that has really made a difference in your life. In an upcoming newsletter, we’ll share some of our favorites! We promise to keep things anonymous unless you clearly state that you would like your name included.

I’ll go first with this month's newsletter. Mine is more of a memory of a teachable moment than a spoken bit of advice I received. But of course, the best advice should be given in action not in word.

When Camelot was newborn and I was a young lad, my approach to our services was delivering the most bang for my customer’s hourly buck. I thought that was the value of my services. As a result, you would typically find me running on the job—up and down the ramp, in and out of the truck and home. One day as I was sprinting by, I saw my colleague literally take the customer by the hand—a frail older gentleman—and walk him slowly up the ramp into our moving van. Not only was he not sprinting, but he was getting in the way of my sprint! Didn’t he know I was trying to get this man’s things moved?! He looked at me and said that he thought Mr. Customer would like to see our operation and the moving van.

It was subtle, probably not even on purpose. But my colleague said a lot with that kind act. I don’t even think I could have put the lesson into words at the time. But now I know…I was moving things. He was moving a person. And I was left with some choices for Camelot in its infancy: what did I want Camelot to do, move things or people? Did I want to assume my customers’ needs and wants, or did I want to operate by them?

Instead of simply chasing a balanced company checkbook, I decided to steer the company to deliver the product I wanted it to offer. Rather than providing a service dictated by the bottom line, our bottom line is dictated by satisfying our clients' many needs, service as well as budget.

I hope my customers sense the metaphorical hand-holding we provide as we move families, not things.

Okay, you're up! I would love to benefit from the collective knowledge of our community.