The March 27, 2006 issue of U.S. News & World Report contains a disturbing article on “The Fight For The Future: What America Must Do To Keep Up With Roaring Economies Like Those Of China, India, and South Korea.” Why disturbing? Let me refer to some statistics cited:
- $194 billion spent by US companies on R&D. $205 billion spent by US companies on tort litigation.
- 9-Rank of American eighth graders in science proficiency among 45 countries. 15-Rank of American eighth graders in math proficiency among 45 countries.
- 56–percentage of engineering Ph.D.’s awarded in the US that go to foreign-born students
- 6–number of the world’s Top 25 information-technology companies based in US. 14–number of the world’s Top 25 information-technology companies based in Asia.
- $33 billion–1990 US trade balance in high-tech manufactured goods. -$24 billion–2004 US trade balance in high-tech manufactured goods.
I see these statistics and I think back to how “The Greatest Generation” responded when America was challenged. US News writes:
For all the talk about what to do–which is likely to get louder in the years ahead–it may simply take a national dose of humility before America musters its famed resolve and strives once again for global leadership.
Unfortunately, the problems that lead to this statistics are ones that took years to create and will take decades to change. Can America muster that kind of resolve for that length of time?
You might be asking what this has to do with client service. Let me respond with two questions: Do you have the resolve it takes to provide great client service over an extended period of time? Clients, do you have the resolve to get great client service over an extended period of time? The challenges are dissimilar, but the character required to address them is not.