“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” ~ Henry Ford
When you are young, you can’t wait to be done with the learning phase of your life. Whether it’s completing a school year, finishing up in the school you are attending (elementary, middle, or high school), or being completely DONE with higher education after college.
At each stage you think you have learned it all. And finally, you are done and are ready for the ‘real world’.
Then you learn while you may be done with formal schooling (or not), learning never, ever stops.
And who would want it to?
Continuing to learn about new things, ideas, and philosophies is exciting. It expands your world and allows you to have interesting conversation with others.
We find we don’t know it all – and never will!
What does learning have to do with your mystery shopping business?
You likely became a mystery shopper because it sounded like fun. Or you needed a way to make extra cash. Or you wanted to fill some time with something productive.
Then you found out that there was more to this mystery shopping than it seemed.
First, it really was work. Sometimes hard work.
There were rules and guidelines to follow. All the minute details that had to remembered and reported on. And use of proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation in your reports.
As your experience in mystery shopping grew, you had to learn about time management. You had to plan and schedule shops in a logical and cost-efficient manner.
Which introduced you to “route shopping”. A method of mystery shopping that helps you to maximize your mileage and time.
And then there was the interesting world of video shopping. You were able to learn to use video equipment and upload files.
Mystery shopping is simple. But it is so much more, isn’t it?
When you mystery shop, your world expands in ways you may not have done so in your current or previous jobs. It keeps you active.
Mystery shopping introduces you to industries and services you may not have known. Being a mystery shopper gives you a platform where you can let your voice be heard (even if no one knows it’s you!).
At Market Viewpoint, we have always considered ourselves educators rather than researchers. We teach our clients how to analyze their customer experiences. And then how to use the data to make those experiences better.
Our shoppers have had the opportunity to learn from our own “Jane Bond” in podcasts, videos, and blogs.
We believe that learning is the lifeline to a good, full life.
Which is why we encourage mystery shoppers to attend as many conferences as they can.
At conferences like MSPA-America’s Shopperfest, you have the opportunity to interact with mystery shopping company staff. And other mystery shoppers. You will learn:
Directly from the source what qualities are needed in a mystery shopper.
- How to avoid scams, to be the go-to shopper for your favorite mystery shopping company, and how to blend into the crowd.
- How you can become a Gold Certified Mystery shopper, which will enable you to get more jobs (and make more money).
- To become certified in Video Shopping, Fine Dining, Banking, and more.
Most importantly, attendance at Shopperfest allows you to know that you are part of a HUGE industry. One that is very important to each of our clients.
The work you do as a mystery shopper is critical to the customer experiences of every business who chooses to mystery shop.
Keep on learning! Learn how to become a better mystery shopper, observer, and writer. Take your home-based business to a new level! And keep your mind sharp – and young!
If you liked this article and want more information to help you become a better mystery shopper join the Market Viewpoint community by clicking here.
Click here if you want to join Market Viewpoint’s team of mystery shoppers.
Do you know someone who would be a good mystery shopper? Please forward this post to them! Thanks!