I find “romance” to be an elusive word. While “romancing” is the process or result of embellishing something into a romantic ideal.
When I see the word “Romancing”, it makes me think of the 1984 movie, “Romancing the Stone” With Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. A lonely writer of romance novels finds herself living an adventure that outstrips her wildest fantasies when she travels to Colombia in search of her kidnapped sister. The film combines outlandish adventure with an affecting love story, as Turner’s character reluctantly solicits the help of a roguish American smuggler, played by Michael Douglas.
The phrase “Romancing the Stone” is actually jewelers’ jargon, referring to a step in preparing a gem for use in jewelry.
Remember that moment you first fell in love? Something clicked with that special someone, and suddenly you wanted to know everything about them — their interests became your interests, and you were willing to do just about anything to get a few extra minutes together.
But there were probably also a few times when that chemistry wasn’t there. Maybe you wanted to like the person. Maybe they had a lot to offer. Maybe they really tried to make you feel special. But it just wasn’t right — and you knew it.
First impressions matter when you’re looking for romance, and they matter in business too. The first few interactions your customers have with your brand will dictate how the relationship plays out. If you make them feel special and serve them well, they will become loyal fans and brand ambassadors .
As with any good relationship, there is a balance of give and take.
The same is true in business. Sometimes the magic just isn’t there, and the customer drifts away. When you push for a sale without investing in the customer relationship, you won’t achieve the long-term relationship you’re hoping for. Sure, you might land a sale or two, but those customers won’t become loyal fans because they haven’t found that special something they’re looking for. That something that solves all their problems, builds trust, and earns loyalty.
As I researched this term, I found a plethora of uses for the word “romancing”. From art shows to music and even cookbooks.
In her cookbook, Romancing the Bean, Joanne Saltzman explains the magic character of the different kinds of beans and how to cook them so that they are easily digestible and seductively delicious. As a protein source, beans definitely command respect.
Romancing the Bean is also the name of a charming coffeehouse cafe in Tempeh, AZ. The dedicated staff rises with the sun to ensure that your experience in the quaint cafe is a charmed one.
In his book, “Romancing the Self”, Tim Blanning argues that the Romantic Revolution had more impact on the world than the American, the French, the Industrial, or the Agricultural Revolution.
And as for the cities — when I think of romantic cities, I think of New York, Paris and Venice. But what makes these cities so romantic?
Kaid Benfield, on NRDC’s Switchboard blog, came up with a list of what these romantic cities have in common:
- Strong sense of place anchored by historic preservation
- Lively, walkable, diverse downtowns
- Compact development patterns
- Extensive and well-used public transportation
- Great public spaces for lively human interaction
- Parks and quiet places mixed in with urbanity
- Great traditional neighborhoods with a strong sense of community
- Welcoming to people of diverse culture
Walking hand-in-hand through downtown sounds romantic to me. Benfield agrees. “People fall in love with these cities, and in them, in part because they are so conducive to nourishing the human spirit.”
The characteristics of these cities aren’t just great for lovers, they increase human interaction, so they’re great for singles as well.
Try visiting the neighborhood in your city that has the most in common with this list.
Let me know whether you felt the magic.
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