Sales professionals to small business owners can, in all honesty, be quite lazy.
When new opportunities present themselves, that is the time to take advantage of them, get off the dime and move forward with directed and focused action.
I realized this once again when talking with a local pharmacist who is probably one of the hardest working businessmen I have ever met.
He attends almost every business networking event; knows at least two people in every restaurant he frequents; is very involved in the communities; and on top of all that consistently demonstrates incredibly high values.
We were having one of our regular luncheons where we share ideas back and forth.
He told me he was changing his next business before hours to a Friday morning.
With the subject matter about social and business networking and how it can potentially increase sales, he believed it was time to “shake things up” and see if he could attract new attendees.
After all, the purpose of these “business before hours” was to bring in new potential clients to his establishment.
I told him what a great idea!
Then he told me that some fellow business colleagues complained because it could not be on the usual Wednesday am schedule.
How short sighted!
Opportunity Is Opportunity!
Unfortunately, too many business professionals forget to “carpe diem”.
They, as in the words of Thomas Edison, miss opportunity because it is “dressed in overalls” and looks like work.
My sense is those complaining would not have been as verbal had he suggested a Friday evening wine and cheese event.
These are the same folks who do not want to travel 30 minutes to attend a business networking event.
I have actually heard “well if they cannot hold it near my office, I am simply not going!”
The other side to this story is another elephant in the room – the self-centered nature of some in business.
Instead of seeing the opportunity to potentially meet and greet new contacts and support someone who had provided numerous business networking events (new marketing and selling opportunities) the last couple of years, these selfish folks, and yes I said selfish, thought about themselves, their own inconvenience first and foremost.
In many instances, these are the same folks who believe referrals are a one way street to them.
Opportunity to grow your business, increase sales.
All you need to do is to move out of your comfort zone, stop being lazy and take action.
Antonios Sakaloglou, Business Development Consultant at CHARAMI S.A.
www.MedicalManage/gr/en
