If Your Marriage Were A Nordstrom

If Your Marriage Were a Nordstrom

Among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.

Matthew 20:26

We happen to live about four blocks from the Nordstrom headquarters and flagship department store in downtown Seattle. On more than one occasion we have had the privilege of speaking in the boardroom of this company to some of the executives and employees. As you walk through the various floors of office suites, you can’t help but notice the same sign hanging in different places. It says, “The only difference between stores is the way they treat their customers.”

Now, if you’ve done much shopping at Nordstrom, you know exactly what that sign means. You see, most stores advertise the quality of their merchandise or the wide selection of their goods. But not Nordstrom. The difference between Nordstrom and most other stores is that other stores are product oriented—Nordstrom is people oriented. Their employees are trained to respond quickly and kindly to customer questions and complaints. As a result, according to business consultant Nancy Austin, “Nordstrom doesn’t have customers; it has fans.”

You can probably think of a few other businesses like that, stores or businesses that treat people so well that their customers might more aptly be described as fans. They have tapped into genuine service, and they have earned the loyalty and even sometimes the love of their customers. The same can be said of marriages. The only difference between marriages is the way spouses treat their spouses. And for a husband and wife who are “spouse oriented,” they don’t just have a partner, they have a fan.

So what could you do in the next twenty-four hours to become a bit more “spouse oriented,” more spouse friendly, for your partner? Can you identify one tangible act of service that would please your partner?

A dress that zips up the back will bring a husband and wife together.

—James H. Boren