I am regularly amused by managers and executives, who have the time to religiously post “drive-by” comments or self-congratulatory announcements on LinkedIn but not the routine discipline to return calls or email or follow up, as agreed.
When you confront them, they tell you that they have been “rammed”.
They don’t respect you and are poorly organised.
Are these your ideal clients, prospects or business partners? In most cases, “no”. So why are you pursuing them?
Governments tend to bail out corporations but never entrepreneurs. In Entrepreneurship, we have to let the system evolve organically, accepting a high volume of small failures because it helps the economic system and losing small to make big. There is honour in failure but we rarely talk about that. We should do more. Instead media headlines caste shame on failure – I am not talking about the crooks – which breeds greater risk aversion, and a society that veers towards non-risk takers (salaried employees with little or no skin in the game). A volition to take big risks with other people’s money and put others at risk without self-harm creates a more fragile system and a greater probability of “blow ups”. Where do you read about that? Not mainstream media or politicians.
Occasionally, I am referred to individuals, who at first sight have a genuine need for immediate “help” in my areas of expertise, and substantial means and volition to pay for it but for inexplicable reasons they then disappear into the ether. The non-response to an agreed call or meeting time or exchange of information, is often the first signal.
As we re-emerge into booming economies with increasing demand for our expertise and time, these individuals need to be ruthlessly culled from prospect lists. Let’s be intellectually honest, there is zero respect for your time and they are worthless to your business. To think differently flies in the face of what you are seeing.
Every business owner and manager needs maximal financial and intellectual firepower to achieve their immediate goals. “Financial” in the form of three pools of replenishing capital: cash, credit and investment. “Intellectual” in the form of key people with a high intellect, highly adept social skills, and the ability to powerfully articulate their value to others. What is missing? Can you quickly develop it or acquire it? If not, what is a more realistic set of goals with the current or probable means at your disposal and your risk tolerance?
Some people insist through whatever medium sharing their unsolicited views, however, pleasant or unpleasant. You enable their views and behavior by offering a response or sharing them with others. That is YOUR choice and in your control. Don’t cede that power and influence unwittingly.
