Still Crawling?

The same can be said about handling clients. It is one aspect that greatly assists in your own character development; if it makes you grow, your business will grow too.

This is the scenario in the beginning as you are starting the business: you want to say yes to everything just so that you get business. You promise the moon, then the sun and ultimately the Andromeda galaxy (I also love astronomy, so bear with me here). You get the jobs. Lo and behold, you can't deliver because you deal in normal light bulbs; the moon is a stretch and you actually can't find anyone who can. You start ignoring client calls since you don't know how to say you messed up. You put your phone on airplane mode since clients A, B, C and D are calling to ask about the stars you promised them since you'd given an incredible timeline of two days: it's a nightmare! Losses upon losses and brand reputation severely hit.

Fast forward to now, a few years in and you have a clear offer detailing what services or products you give to clients (with a clear omission of astronomy of course!). Each offering has a clear timeline or their is a distinct process for determining the same. Your 'yeses' are limited to what you can offer or what you can effectively sub-contract. You say 'NO' more often now and you use airplane mode on the plane as it should be.

Once in a while, you get opportunities that tempt you to start quoting stars again but you are passed that now. You have put in new rules and strategies that work and ensure your relationships with clients are win-wins. You stick to the rules of engagement that work and polish those that can be better. When you don't, you are opening up yourself to the same problems those rules were made for.

You are still crawling if you are still afraid of picking up client calls. Crawling is a stage; you need to move past it and stand on your feet... then start walking.. you get the drift.

#business #growth #productivity #clientmanagement #strategy #integrity #businessgrowth #personaldevelopment

When you were a crawling toddler, you don't remember of course but, you tried countless times at standing upright. You failed at most attempts and it was funny seeing you fall on your backside. Each time, you either abandoned the previously unsuccessful strategy or put more effort in one that almost got you there. Eventually, you stood upright and then you loudly shouted so everyone could see you there in your full 60cm body frame smiling proudly. All of a sudden, crawling wasn't going to cut it anymore; now you want to walk. The same process continues: of strategy and falling and back again... then you could walk. Ultimately, you wanted to run and we all know where the story goes after that. At each point, there are lessons learned and new rules you made for yourself that then guided you on the next steps.