Where is your place?
It’s quite a question, right? And the truth is, is that in a world where there’s uncertainty, turmoil and crisis, everyone needs their place.
There are 2 places we go to regularly; work and our home. But then there’s your 3rd place. A place that we can really feel comfortable.
A place you can gather and escape from the stress of the world. A place you can be yourself. A place where people know your name and when you walk in you can exhale instead of inhale.
I heard about the “3rd Place” recently and as a small business owner this is something to think about.
In a world where we’ve just gotten through COVID, with so much uncertainty and all of the challenges and changes that happened because of the severity of the pandemic, we all need our 3rd place.
We need our place to feel good when we’re not at home and when we’re not at work.
Our home makes us feel good and keeps us safe.
It makes us feel like we can do anything and when life throws challenges our way our home is our foundation.
And from the effects of the past two years, our workplace should be a place that feels safe. A place that promotes creativity, diversity and inclusion.
A place you can share your ideas without being criticized and know that life harmony means something.
But people want connection outside of home and work.
As a small business owner you can create that place for customers, vendors and your community.
The 3rd place is the bridge between home and work.
It’s the place where you can go and escape from the stresses we face every day locally and globally.
It’s a place you talk about your creative ideas, brainstorm how to change the world with others and even learn a thing or two about something you never knew about.
Whether it’s a restaurant that you love to frequent where they know your favorite cocktail, favorite cup of tea or favorite sweet.
Or your favorite retail store that sells the best sweaters and the most unique gifts.
They know your name and they spend some time chatting with you.
They know your kids’ names, they know your dog’s names. They spend the time to get to know you.
They tell the stories and the backgrounds of the products in the store or they share the recipe to your favorite cocktail there.
You might learn what they’re studying to do in the future or maybe even you talk about how to make the world a better place.
They take the time to understand where you are and they meet you there.
To them you aren’t a sale or a transaction. You’re a human, a friend.
That third place are the places that we need more of in this world. And it’s also the thing that we are missing the most.
Don’t be the same old same old in your area. Dare to be different.
History is ruled by those who dared to be different. Those who disrupted the norm.
So right now, instead of focusing on managing rising costs, inflation, struggles in getting product at the time you want it, focus on creating a 3rd place for others with your business.
What can you do to create real value for your employees, customers and the community?
It’s not from what you sell but rather what you create in the environment you built to sell your products, services, food.
Delivering real value for others will bring people back time and time again.
And your business will be their 3rd place.
