RETURN THE CALL, SET THE MEETING

One of the major “no – no’s” in small business is not returning phone calls or accepting a meeting invitation. This week I attended a meeting at which the speaker was a small business owner who offered a service for which I happened to be in the market. After the meeting, I spoke with him, gave him my card and shared that I was looking to hire someone in his business specialty. I asked him to call me and he said he would later the same day. No, he never called.

I am sure that every small business owner has experienced a call, not returned, from a potential service provider. I also know that sometimes we don’t return calls or set appointments for fear of someone trying to sell us something.

I look forward to meeting with people who take the time to seek me out. They may have the one ingredient I need to take my business to the next level. If they are selling something that I may not need, I listen, get their information and tell them that I will share it with my contacts if I am unable to use it myself.

Just as important is my opportunity to share my story with them and to ask them to help grow my business. I have made some very significant and worthwhile strategic partners from meetings such as these.

Remember, you are in the people business and allowing someone to share their business story with you and yours with them is an extremely good use of time. At the start of all my meetings I share that we have 30 minutes before my next appointment; this allows me to be in charge of the meeting and to set the stage for what I want to happen.

These calls are not cold calls, and all these people have contacts that can help you grow. The secret is to be prepared with your compelling story and to be ready to share it at a moment’s notice.

I need a phone with 500% battery life!