The John Deere Way

One of my new year's resolutions was to read more. And to blog more. So I guess I'll be blogging about books. How's that?

Today, I read The John Deere Way by David Magee. It was a neat book that investigated the success of one of America's most durable brands. I was struck by a couple of stories:

• During the Depression, John Deere refused to call in loans or repossess farmers. To this day, it is not uncommon for a family farmer to buy John Deere because the company saved the family farm 80 years ago.
• When a back in Moline, Ill. had a $1.3 million scare that threatened the savings of John Deere factory workers, the company made up the difference at the bank.
• John Deere's incredible slogan: "I will not put my name on a product that does not have in it the best that is in me."

The bottom line is that John Deere is busy doing everything they can to ensure their customers receive a superior product. That kind of commitment generates word of mouth, return customers. The church doesn't have customers per se, but we need to be in the business of treating people with that same level of excellence.