Getting Through Tough Times
The smartest way to get more clients.
David Ackert (from Los Angeles, CA) wrote this article recently. It is especially motivating during this part of the year. Reading it, my mind drifted along...
For many "Client Facing" companies and individuals, this season offers an interesting blend of opportunity and challenge. While more people than ever may see who you are, what you offer, and what you do, they may have been overwhelmed seeing the OTHER people, offers and services that are available.
While observing companies advertise, reach more consumers and improve visibility, think about how you as an individual might be able to do this as well.
TEACHERS: Your students look up to you in the classroom; what do they have to look up to outside of those four walls?
Teaching high school from 1995-2000, I regularly submitted articles to magazines, newspapers and other local media. It was amazing and influential when students read articles I wrote on education, learning and assessment programs. Through building our credibility in our local community, we can maximize the "buy-in" we get from our "clients." (As teachers, our clients = the community.)
FRIENDS: Do they know you're thinking of them? Us guys have an interesting situation to balance.
We want to have friends and build upon those relationships, but sometimes cultural norms get in the way of us doing something that would be nice. When was the last time you called a buddy to say, "Hey, I was thinkin' of you."? Or, when did you last send a greeting card that was not for an event, a birthday or a holiday? There's a network surrounding each one of that encourages us, pushes us and wants us to succeed. Let's let them know we appreciate them.
COWORKERS: How much could we not do without them? There are people on your desk, in your office or in your organization that really do make all the difference.
In the next week or two, see if there's something you can do to strengthen (or create) a working relationship with someone. It's what long-term partners do with one another and over time it really impacts the quantity and quality of the work that gets done.
MENTORS: These are the people who have made the big differences along the way. The people who give you a little bit of coaching, an idea here and there, a subtle nudge in another direction.
Of course, some mentors live or work far away. They may tell us something on the phone or in person, and then not get to hear what we did as a result of that coaching or those ideas. Consider putting a note together where you let them know, from time to time, how much you're doing and how (if you are!) you are using their advice.
Thanks, David, for putting an article together that got me thinking bigger...great work!