Opportunity Calling

The other day as I sat in my office I received a cold call from someone representing a major life insurance company. Her script went something like this: "Hi my name is Nancy. I'm with X,Y,Z company and a member of the Chamber. That's where I got your name. I would like to set up an appointment to come out, introduce myself and tell you about the products and services my company offers."

I politely explained to her that I was already working with trusted professionals in both insurance and financial services but that I hoped to meet her at an upcoming Chamber function. What she said next simply floored me. She replied, "Well, to tell you the truth I have never attended any Chamber functions." Her voice seemed to go from confident to apologetic, upbeat to flat in a hearbeat. I had taken her off script and caught her flat-footed.

Undeterred, I asked if she would like to attend one of our Chamber's excellent business education breakfasts and mentioned that I am on the planning committee. Her reply: "Well, I don't really go to those things." After a couple of other futile attempts to interest her in one of the upcoming programs I finally gave up. And sadly, without realizing it, she missed out on a tremendous networking opportunity. She clearly didn't know what to do when someone took her off her script and couldn't recognize opportunity staring her in the face.

As I work with professionals who are marketing their services one cardinal rule stands out: Everyone you meet is either a potential client, a potential referral source or a potential member of your priceless network. And you are always, everywhere you go building those lists.

You never know how valuable a single contact may be. Are you in sales? (Hint: everyone is). Are you marketing a professional service, a product, an opportunity? Are you seeking ways to tap into business-owners, decision makers and other centers of influence? Sales of professional services (insurance, consulting, coaching, fitness coaching, financial planning, to name a few) are based on increasing the K, L, T --know, like, trust--factor. The higher the degree of K,L,T, the greater the likelihood you'll make a sale or get a referral. So you can't afford NOT to respond positively to opportunities to come in contact with people who fit the profile of your ideal clients, referral sources or members of your priceless network.

Take a look around this week. What are you doing to build your network? Are you missing opportunities because "you don't go to those things." And if you work with calling scripts or coach or mentor others who do, remind them how important it is to still be open to the possibility that an opportunity will present itself disguised as something else. Teach them to recognize it when it does.

In challenging economic times, those who continually grow their networks and learn to recognize opportunities when they present themselves, stand to gain. This week, decide to see opportunity when it presents itself to you, even if it doesn't look like what's on the script!

Quote of the Week:

"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity"

~~Albert Einstein

Get Clients Now! coming soon!! If you're a professional who is ready to take a quantum step forward in marketing your services and attracting new clients watch for an announcement coming soon about the next Get Clients Now! program I'm offering. In the meantime, visit my website at www.dynamic-coaching.com for a description of Get Clients Now!

"Transforming Your Potential into Performance!"
Betty Mahalik, PCC Life & Business Coach, Trainer bettym@dynamic-coaching.com www.dynamic-coaching.com	Dynamic Solutions 5240 Mustang St. Las Vegas, NV 89130 tel: 702 658-4425 fax: 702 658-5802 mobile: 702 443-0175
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