Issue 069: What a Puppy Can Remind Us About Business
After 18 months of submitting plenty of adoption applications, I finally came home with a tiny fur-baby, Gidget.
With a little more than a week into this journey, I’ve learned many lessons that segue into business. First, let’s talk about rejections. Now, between my experience as a traditionally published writer, a sales executive/trainer, and a business owner, I’ve experienced my share of rejections. And anyone who has ever applied for a job or has been in business knows something about rejection, especially if you’re in business development. And let’s face it, if we have clients, we’re in business development, aka sales.
The Right Fit. Although I was amazed adopting a pup had taken longer than expected because you often hear about the abundance of dogs needing to be adopted, it was about finding the right fit. My application qualifications didn’t match the foster parents’ criteria for their foster dogs. Apply that same perspective to our buyers searching for the right product or service. When our buyers say “no” to us, the specific product or service wasn’t the right fit for them. Now that I have Gidget, this little two-pound, 10-week CorgiCav was the right fit for both of us and worth the wait. And that’s the same goal for our buyers.
The Wave of Change. Whether it’s a change you wanted or a change you did not, every change will cause waves in your life. And these waves can create negative and positive emotions, even if you wanted the change. Last Thursday, I spent seven hours in Urgent Care with Gidget. With only six days as this pup’s mom, I couldn’t give the vet much information as she lived in a barn with little human contact. Imagine the roller coaster of emotions from joy to negative feelings: anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and frustration. These four negative emotions I felt can be the same ones buyers experience during the buying process. As with Gidget’s background, we don’t always know what happens behind closed doors or what our customers have endured. So even if our clients wanted the change, we need to recognize and lower any risk or negative emotions that could surface.
Back to Basics. Although a puppy required an array of basics, the core ingredient comes down to relationship building. Bonding with a puppy takes time, effort, and energy. Does this sound familiar when it comes to business? When I worked with a national builder, the “script” with the typical “how many bedrooms and bathrooms do you want” didn’t work for me. Instead, my questions focused on my customers’ lifestyles, such as “Do you entertain regularly? What sports and activities are your kids in? Are you a foodie who loves to cook?” Asking these questions created a connection and strengthen our relationship. And when we want to create a solid relational foundation with our clients, giving our time, effort, and energy becomes vital.
Bounce-Up Momentum Builders
What emotions have surfaced when you made a positive change?
What back-to-basics action can improve your customer service?
What has a pet taught you about business?
Mj Happenings
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Until next time, Power-Up, Play-Up, and Bounce-Up™!
Mj
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