They drive through flames, they jump over canyons, and they speed through crowded streets on the big screen. Stunt car drivers take a lot of risks on a daily basis to do their jobs. However, if the profession never existed, our movies would lack the action-packed and thrilling scenes we all enjoy. They’d be quite boring with little difference between this action movie and the next.

The truth is that taking risks can have huge payoffs in the right situations. While of course, there are some situations where risk can be dangerous — like risky driving or risky behavior. However, leaving your comfort zone can help you grow as a person and open up new opportunities.

Who could be more qualified to teach us lessons about risk-taking than the daredevil stunt drivers themselves? Check out these 9 risk-taking lessons put together by The Zebra to show you when to play it safe and when to take a chance.

From moving to a new city or changing your career path, consider areas of your life that could use a little risk.

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In an age of digital consumerism, brick and mortar businesses need to go the extra mile to stand out and compete. In February, e-commerce sales led U.S retail market share for the first time, according to the Commerce Department. Meanwhile, brick and mortar sales continue to slow, growing just 3.7 percent compared to e-commerce’s 15 percent in 2018. Since the growth of physical retail has slowed, business owners are facing added challenges in capturing the interests of customers, and making a good impression in business has become even more crucial to achieving this. According to research, businesses have up to 7 seconds to make a good first impression on customers, and in some cases, even less. Just as it is important for entrepreneurs to make good impressions, customers’ initial thoughts of your business property can set the tone for the entire customer-business relationship.

First Impressions Impact On Business Operations

Within seconds of entering a business premises, customers have formed a personal opinion. It is the first point of contact with the customer, and the business’ first chance to get its sales pitch and information across. The impression given by a brick and mortar store does not just apply to those who enter the shop as customers, but also to surrounding shoppers who view the space, and those who may enter to simply browse. Making a good impression on them can result in two benefits for the business: it can secure repeat visits from impressed customers, and it can secure more first time customers through in-person feedback and referrals.

This applies to the online dynamic of the business as well. Customers impressed in-store often head online and leave reviews which are accessed by millions of shoppers in multiple target markets. Based on results from a Brightlocal survey, 60 percent of shoppers check Google My Business for reviews on local businesses, and 57 percent of them admit they will only consider a company with a 4-star rating or higher. So, in fact, making a good impression on a customer instore can mean boosting sales instore and online. A good impression made by a bricks and mortar establishment can also be the link that creates a synonymous brand for the business.

Start With The Basics: Good Maintenance

Many business owners underestimate the power of simple storefront maintenance for customers. Making sure the store is looking its best gives you a great canvas to start with, and it is a great tip for all businesses, even the cash strapped ones. Start with store cleanliness and organization. Retail store cleanliness ranks highly for shoppers, according to Consumer Reports. This includes making sure restrooms are clean, fresh and fully stocked, along with the store floors and entrances being polished and regularly cleaned. Don’t forget to pay attention to the exterior of the property either. Well maintained exterior spaces boost positive opinion, since they are the first glimpse of your business that customers get. Customers appreciate clean and well-maintained garages, while a well-lit exterior can boost customer security. That feeling of security for customers further fuels a positive impression. Finally, ensure access to the store is unencumbered, and any elevators are regularly maintained and in working order,

Consistency Is Key

Giving a good impression is all about translating a message. Therefore, you want to establish a consistent message and image, which you want to get across to the consumers from the time they first view your store. This is where visual design and signage comes in. Your store’s signage is one of the first things customers notice, so be sure to prioritize this aspect, and also remember to translate this to your website as well. Consider your brand when designing your signage and choosing signature colors. This makes your brand easily identifiable. Pay attention to your storefront display as well, and have a standard rota for reorganization or new displays to keep customers’ interests.

Remember Good Impressions Are Not Just Visual: Interaction Is Important Too

However, keep in mind that while maintaining a good outward store appearance is important, your customer service is also a key part of a good impression on customers. Therefore, establish an appropriate store uniform to aid branding and consistency. Employee training surrounding customer interaction, particularly greeting and handling of customer displeasure should also be included. Your employees and the customer service they provide all feed into customers’ impression of your business. According to Dimensional Research, 59 percent of customers won’t return after poor customer service, and 95 percent of them share bad experiences with others.

For any business to compete effectively, appearance is important. This is particularly applicable in the brick and mortar world of retail, where our purchase decisions and interests are more visually led. Therefore making the investment into creating a good first impression is bound to reap you great rewards, both with your current customers, and in attracting new ones.

Featured Photo by Naim Benjelloun from Pexels

Read Next: Want to Enjoy Business Success? Ensure Your Appearance is Up to Scratch!

The Greatness Guide by Robin Sharma is a powerful and extremely practical handbook that will inspire you to get to world class in both your personal and professional life. The Greatness Guide contains a proven formula that will help you meet your highest potential and live an extraordinary life.

Below are a few success lessons that we can learn from this great book.

The Greatness Guide Lessons by Robin Sharma

1. As you live your days, so you craft your life

Your days are your life in miniature. As you live your hours, so you create your years. As you live your days, so your craft your life. What you do today is actually creating your future. The words you speak, the thoughts you think, the food you eat and the actions you take are defining your destiny – shaping who you are becoming and what your life will stand for. Small choices lead to giant consequences – over time. There’s no such thing as an unimportant day.

2. Know your genius

Focus on any area of skill with a relentless devotion to daily improvement and a passion for excellence and within three to five years, you will be operating at a level of competence (and insight) such that people call you a genius. Focus plus daily improvement plus time equals genius. Understand that formula deeply and your life will never be the same.

3. Learn to say no

Every time you say yes to something that is unimportant, you say no to something that is important.

You can’t be all things to all people. The best among us get that. Know your priorities. Know your goals. Know what needs to get done over the coming weeks, months and years for you to feel that you played your best game as a human being. And then say no to everything else. Sure some people around you might not be happy. But would you rather live your life according to the approval of others or aligned with your truth and your dreams?

4. Keep learning

There’s a cure for aging that no one talks about. It’s called learning.

Too many people never pick up a book after they’ve finished school. Unbelievable. Too many people spend more time watching TV than getting deep inside the minds of the greatest people who have walked the planet. Too many people have closed their minds to new insights and powerful thoughts. One idea discovered in one book could transform the way you communicate with people. One idea found in one book could help you live longer or be happier or drive your business to remarkable success. Never leave home without a book in your hand.

5. Seven forms of wealth

There are actually seven elements that you want to raise to world – class level before you call yourself rich.

Inner Wealth: This includes a positive mindset, high self – respect, internal peace and a strong spiritual connection.

Physical Wealth: Your health is your wealth. What’s the point of getting to a great place in your career if you get sick doing it? Why be the best businessperson in the hospital ward? Why be the richest person in the graveyard?

Family and Social Wealth: When your family life is happy, you will perform better at work. No one gets to the end of their life and regrets making their family their first priority. Related to this is the imperative of forgoing deep connections with friends and members of your personal community (including mentors, role models and trusted advisors).

Career Wealth: Actualizing your highest potential by reaching for your best in your career is incredibly important. Getting to greatness in your profession brings a feeling of satisfaction on a job well done. It helps you make your mark, being world class in your work is so good for your self – respect.

Economic Wealth: Yes, money is important. Not the most important thing in life but very important. It absolutely makes life easier and better: Money allows you to live in a nice home, take beautiful vacations and provide well for those you love. And as Yvon Chouinard, the founder of the outdoor gear company Patagonia, has said: “The more I make, the more I can give away.”

Adventure Wealth: To be fulfilled, each of us needs mystery in our lives. Challenge is necessary for happiness. The human brain craves novelty. And we are creative beings so we need to be creating constantly if we hope to feel joy. Lots of adventure (ranging from meeting new people to visiting new places) is an essential element of authentic wealth.

Impact Wealth: Perhaps the deepest longing of the human heart is to live fro something greater than itself. Each of us craves to be significant. To make a difference. To know that the world has somehow been better because we have walked the planet. Think of what Richard Bach once wrote: “Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you’re alive, it isn’t.”

6. Get fit

Getting into world – class physical condition is one of the smartest moves you can make. Exercising will make you look better, feel strong and fill you with boundless energy. Staying fit will even make you happier.

“Good health is a crown on the head of a well person that only a sick person can see.”

7. Learn more to earn more

To earn more you must learn more. The compensation you receive from your employer will be determined by the value you add. The more you know, the more valuable you become. To earn more, learn more. Out read your competition. Out – study them. Out – improve them. Out – succeed them.

Investing in learning and getting your skill to world class is the smartest investment you’ll ever make.

8. The power of focus

What you focus on grows. What you concentrate on is what you see more in your life. Think about that line. Focus on financial mastery and you’ll see your economic life improve. Focus on being more loving and your relationships will improve. Focus on your physical dimension by exercising and following a superb diet and your health will improve. Focus. Focus. Focus.

The person who tries to do everything accomplishes nothing.

9. Commit to first class

Rewarding yourself with good things sends a message to the deepest – and highest – part of you. One that says “I’m worth it – and I deserve it.”

Invest in the best. Buy the highest quality goods you can possibly afford. Better to buy one superb pair of shoes than three cheap ones (they’ll last you longer and make you feel great while you are wearing them).

“Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten.”

10. Do a clean sweep

Delete what needs to be eliminated from your life – you will feel lighter, happier and your mind will experience more peace.

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What are your favorite success lessons from The Greatness Guide? Leave a comment below.