---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think of customer service as an offense…"
description: "\"I think of customer service as an offense and not a defense\" — Gary Vaynerchuk"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f11/gary-vaynerchuk-1297_customer_i-think-of-customer-service-as-an-offens_1071189.png"
---

#  I think of customer service as an offense and not a defense

![“I think of customer service as an offense and not a defense” quote by Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f11/gary-vaynerchuk-1297_customer_i-think-of-customer-service-as-an-offens_1071189.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f11/gary-vaynerchuk-1297_customer_i-think-of-customer-service-as-an-offens_1071189.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f11/gary-vaynerchuk-1297_customer_i-think-of-customer-service-as-an-offens_1071189.png)

> “I think of customer service as an offense and not a defense”

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Customer service should be approached aggressively as a proactive strategy rather than a defensive reaction.

**In simple terms:** Treat customer service as an attack, not a shield.

Key Takeaway

Adopt proactive, bold customer engagement.

Themes

business marketing service

Mood

assertive strategic

Type

business motivational

When to use this quote

- sales training
- marketing campaigns
- customer feedback loops
- brand positioning
- service innovation

Key Concepts

Proactive strategy aggressive outreach customer experience competitive advantage

Questions to Reflect On

- When is a defensive approach more appropriate?
- How can aggression be balanced with empathy?

A Different Perspective

Aggressive tactics may alienate some customers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Customer service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer-service/) [Customers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customers/) [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense/) [Offense Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense-defense-463955/) [Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service/) [Service Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service-offense-2669611/) [Think Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-customer-458477/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [It's important to think of every customer as an online celebrity with followers, friends, &amp; above all influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-kerpen/it-s-important-to-think-of-every-customer-as-an-online-celebrity-with/)

[Dave Kerpen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-kerpen/)

> [Even in the face of massive competition, don't think about the competition. Literally don't think about them. Every time you're in a meeting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccue/even-in-the-face-of-massive-competition-don-t-think-about-the/)

[Mike McCue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccue/)

> [The only trade Red Auerbach made in my first 10 years there was Mel Counts for Bailey Howell, and of course there wasn't free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-havlicek/the-only-trade-red-auerbach-made-in-my-first-10-years-there-was-mel/)

[John Havlicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-havlicek/)

> [I've been in international competition, and now I know what the big boys can do. You don't go out and just run. There's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/i-ve-been-in-international-competition-and-now-i-know-what-the-big/)

[Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/)

> [A good football team plays offense and defense. You have to be aggressive and disrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-flynn/a-good-football-team-plays-offense-and-defense-you-have-to-be/)

[Vince Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-flynn/)

> [I take great pride in playing on special teams. A lot of people think that most special teams players aren't good enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordarrelle-patterson/i-take-great-pride-in-playing-on-special-teams-a-lot-of-people-think/)

[Cordarrelle Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordarrelle-patterson/)

> [Worry about being better; bigger will take care of itself. Think one customer at a time and take care of each one the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-comer/worry-about-being-better-bigger-will-take-care-of-itself-think-one/)

[Gary Comer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-comer/)

> [Even in the face of massive competition, don't think about the competition. Just think about the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccue/even-in-the-face-of-massive-competition-don-t-think-about-the-2/)

[Mike McCue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccue/)

> [The awkward moment when you think a customer is a salesperson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-awkward-moment-when-you-think-a-customer-is-a-salesperson/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [At IBM everybody sells! Every employee has been trained to think that the customer comes first - everybody from the CEO, to the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/at-ibm-everybody-sells-every-employee-has-been-trained-to-think-that/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [If what we're really trying to do is stop the spread of HIV, we need to think about the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lockwood/if-what-we-re-really-trying-to-do-is-stop-the-spread-of-hiv-we-need/)

[Amy Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lockwood/)

> [“Harvard economist Theodore Levitt was the first authority to write about what he called the total product.2 A total product has four dimensions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-de-haaff/harvard-economist-theodore-levitt-was-the-first-authority-to-write/)

[Brian de Haaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-de-haaff/)

> [Before you can pick a social-media strategy, you have to think of your customer and what the value proposition is for them. Social media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-roth/before-you-can-pick-a-social-media-strategy-you-have-to-think-of-your/)

[Carol Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-roth/)

> [It's very logical: There is proven ROI in doing whatever you can to turn your customers into advocates for your brand or business. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/it-s-very-logical-there-is-proven-roi-in-doing-whatever-you-can-to/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [Unless you are building a new company from the ground up and can install caring as your businesses' cornerstone, you have to be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/unless-you-are-building-a-new-company-from-the-ground-up-and-can/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

## More by Gary Vaynerchuk

> [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [I spent all my time in the clouds or the dirt and that is why I think I’m successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-spent-all-my-time-in-the-clouds-or-the-dirt-and-that-is-why-i-think/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [I always say that the real success of Wine Library wasn't due to the videos I posted, but to the hours I spent talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-always-say-that-the-real-success-of-wine-library-wasn-t-due-to-the/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [We only get to play this game one time, one life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/we-only-get-to-play-this-game-one-time-one-life/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [2006, I started 'WineLibrary TV.' To build 'WineLibrary TV,' I started using Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter in 2008.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/2006-i-started-winelibrary-tv-to-build-winelibrary-tv-i-started-using/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [Okay, let's talk about cartoon labels for half a second - some people think anything with a dog or a car or a colorful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/okay-let-s-talk-about-cartoon-labels-for-half-a-second-some-people/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [Jabs are the lightweight pieces of content that benefit your customers by making them laugh, snicker, ponder, play a game, feel appreciated, or escape;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/jabs-are-the-lightweight-pieces-of-content-that-benefit-your/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [I love people, and the hustle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-love-people-and-the-hustle/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [Ignoring platforms that have gained critical mass is a great way to look slow and out-of-touch. Do not cling to nostalgia. Do not put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/ignoring-platforms-that-have-gained-critical-mass-is-a-great-way-to/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [“I failed all my classes and that's why I'm winning. In hindsight, the fact that I was considered a failure for the first 18…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-failed-all-my-classes-and-that-s-why-i-m-winning-in-hindsight-the/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [Company culture is the backbone of any successful organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/company-culture-is-the-backbone-of-any-successful-organization/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [I never thought I'd be a person who would want to write books...I promise you not a single English teacher I've ever had would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-never-thought-i-d-be-a-person-who-would-want-to-write-books-i/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [“Because when it comes down to it, the only thing that will never change is human nature. When given the choice, people will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/because-when-it-comes-down-to-it-the-only-thing-that-will-never/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [No one makes a million dollars with minimal effort unless they win the lottery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/no-one-makes-a-million-dollars-with-minimal-effort-unless-they-win/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [We're living in what I like to call the 'Thank You Economy,' because only the companies that can figure out how to mind their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/we-re-living-in-what-i-like-to-call-the-thank-you-economy-because/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

[Explore all 259 Gary Vaynerchuk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

## More Customer quotes

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/)

[Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/)

> [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/)

[Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/)

> [Don't think OF the market. Think AS the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fishman/don-t-think-of-the-market-think-as-the-market/)

[Michael Fishman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fishman/)

> [If Wall Street crashes, does Main Street follow? Not necessarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/if-wall-street-crashes-does-main-street-follow-not-necessarily/)

[Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/)

> [The exact details of how you practice value investing will vary investor to investor, but the fundamental principle of scouring the world, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-tilson/the-exact-details-of-how-you-practice-value-investing-will-vary/)

[Whitney Tilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-tilson/)

> [The best way to hold customers is to constantly figure out how to give them more for less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kotler/the-best-way-to-hold-customers-is-to-constantly-figure-out-how-to/)

[Philip Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kotler/)

> [Perhaps the most important reason to be skeptical of government inflation numbers is that the government, like a fox campaigning to guard a hen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/perhaps-the-most-important-reason-to-be-skeptical-of-government/)

[Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/)

> [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/)

[Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/)

> [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/)

[Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/)

> [I believe confusion is good. Worldwide market leaders gain when there is confusion in the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subhash-chandra/i-believe-confusion-is-good-worldwide-market-leaders-gain-when-there/)

[Subhash Chandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subhash-chandra/)

> [Damn inflation, full speed ahead,' Greenspan has said in both action and word. I think an investor should believe him and invest accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gross/damn-inflation-full-speed-ahead-greenspan-has-said-in-both-action-and/)

[Bill Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gross/)

> [“When companies get big, they devote most of their care and feeding to the business that got them big. This is as it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/when-companies-get-big-they-devote-most-of-their-care-and-feeding-to/)

[Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/)

> [“Salesmanship is usually the art of making it the prospect’s problem, the salesperson’s need or desire to earn money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/salesmanship-is-usually-the-art-of-making-it-the-prospect-s-problem/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

[Browse all 9,257 Customer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think of customer service as an offense and not a defense",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gary Vaynerchuk"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-think-of-customer-service-as-an-offense-and-not-a-defense/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Customer"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-think-of-customer-service-as-an-offense-and-not-a-defense/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f11/gary-vaynerchuk-1297_customer_i-think-of-customer-service-as-an-offens_1071189.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f11/gary-vaynerchuk-1297_customer_i-think-of-customer-service-as-an-offens_1071189.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f11/gary-vaynerchuk-1297_customer_i-think-of-customer-service-as-an-offens_1071189.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think of customer service as an offense and not a defense” — Gary Vaynerchuk",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Gary Vaynerchuk",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think of customer service as...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-think-of-customer-service-as-an-offense-and-not-a-defense/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-think-of-customer-service-as-an-offense-and-not-a-defense/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
