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One of the lessons my parents made sure was engrained into me was to demand quality. And by quality I do not mean brand names of high expenses.

For decades my mother subscribed to Consumer Reports and I devoured it. Even when I was in elementary school, I was fascinated by the disparity between cost and quality of so many items. In almost every case, the most expensive item wasn't even close to the best.

Today, I still subscribe to the online version. We've used their listings to buy everything from cars to blenders to sunscreen.

When we built our dream home from 2009–2010, we used the publication extensively to make myriad decisions. There are thousands of parts to purchase when building a home, and this enabled us to make better decisions and save money. We particularly used it when purchasing appliances, paint, and other things that would keep maintenance costs low.

The focus on quality isn't just about purchases but also about the work we offer to our customers, clients, or bosses. Attention to detail can make the difference between keeping and losing a customer.

Years ago I made a purchase for our little homeschool from a company called Timberdoodle. It's a family business that sells an eclectic selection of educational items. When we got the package (packed carefully and shipped promptly) it included an invoice with a smiley face written on it and a little page of stickers stapled to it.

This was not an enormous addition to my order, but it was a little touch that showed consideration. Although I don't have a lot of materials to buy these days, I still have them high on my list of good companies to consider when making a purchase.

We must do all things lovingly and quality of life will follow.

In this context, love means concern, kindness, consideration, fairness. Think how much better you would do your job if you thought about the needs of the boss, instead of when you'd finally get off work. Think how differently you might treat your spouse, if you think how you'd like to be treated. Think about how you would complete a project in your own home when you complete one for someone else.

In general, our behavior will be better—and of higher quality—if we act with love and care.

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Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.