Over the past few years I’ve been lucky. I have been reminded of the most important thing we can all do to be more successful in our businesses, our careers and our personal lives.

Treat everyone well.

It’s a simple lesson but easily forgotten. Or maybe, for some, it was never learned. I admit to neglecting this rule more than once in my career. Maybe because it’s so simple, we disregard its value and its power.

A foundation of my philosophy (in business and in the rest of my life) is that we need to treat everyone well. Another way to look at this is we’re here to serve others. And the best way to serve others (or at least, the best way to start) is by putting others first. This means treating them with courtesy, dignity and kindness. It also means putting their interests ahead of ours.

If you’ve read much of my work, you know a big part of what I preach is that Amazing customer service starts with treating everyone well.  If you want more loyal customers, treat them well. But in doing so you need to treat everyone well, not just customers.

What’s amusing (but in a sad way) is how many people who contact me violate this very basic idea. They request information. They want pricing. They have a question. They expect me to stop what I’m doing and respond to them. They want my help.

Yet, when

Here’s an easy way to spot a successful organization.

When you do business with someone observe how they treat everyone. Watch how they deal with employees, vendors, customers and others.

The most successful and sustainable companies treat everyone well. They know (and their actions show) there is no second class.

But we all know this is not the norm.