SHE Sells…Let’s Face It, Don’t We All?

Between coordinating a Women in Business Program for female entrepreneurs, enjoying a great banking relationship with many small businesses (male or female owned) and leading a team of 30+ women in my India Hicks business, I spend 99.9% of my time in “all things business development.” What is your percentage? If you are a company leader, an entrepreneur, a volunteer leading the charge in membership or fundraising or the founder of an organization, I assure you, you ARE almost always in “business development mode.”

As you might recall, I wrote a few weeks ago about Romi Neustadt’s Get Over Your Damn Self concepts. Interesting how when I write about certain topics or behaviors, they seem to present themselves all around me in the weeks to follow. Writing about them must put them into “zoom lens mode” in my brain as I approach my daily activities.

The last couple of weeks have been no different. I chatted a bit with my husband about it, as he has been in business development/sales the majority of his professional career. He reminded me of an acronym he picked up over 2 decades ago in an insurance trade training… SWx3: Some will, some won’t, so what…Next! When I have one of those bad days in business development, he is right there with this reminder. And he’s right.

SHE friends, our attitude is the biggest factor in building business, gaining customers or members and even in fundraising. Yes, it IS about relationships, but our timing is not always their timing. There are a ton of variables in business development. You ask for their support and they put you off or say no? It’s tempting to go immediately to the attitude of “my product is bad” or “they don’t like me” or “they don’t approve.” Maybe, but in most cases you couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Just as “life happens” to us, they are living the same life. Maybe they don’t have the money right now, maybe they don’t need the product or service right now (even if they ARE your closest friend and you want their support) or maybe they are content with their existing relationship/product/service in the same industry right now.
You know what?

That’s OK.

You know what else? Some will, some won’t, so what…NEXT!

So as you head into your week, keep networking, keep calling, keep meeting and keep asking. Also, keep track of those “no” and “not now” responses (contact management is huge). Attitude is everything and there is PLENTY of business to go around. In fact, some of those “no” and “not now” responses might be a resounding “yes” down the road.

Oh, and while we’re on this topic, here’s a bonus acronym: Don’t be SNIOP’ed.

Translation? Don’t be susceptible to the negative input of other people. Go do you with your best foot forward. It might not be for everyone but, in my experience, when I put “the real me” out there with great positivity and good intentions, the business gets developed eventually. Make it a GREAT week!

Note from the SHE Files: Some will, some won’t, so what…NEXT