Are You Acting Like a Scared 9-Year-Old? – Guest Post by Todd Pillars

You’re standing on the playground and it’s the first day of school. You know exactly two people – your little brother and the lady that says she’s your new teacher – neither beneficial to making new friends. You’re scared stiff and you’re at a crossroads… Do I act like them? Or, do I be myself? What’s the best way to get them all to like me?

Wisdom tells us you can’t please everyone. However, it can be tough to call some entrepreneurs wise. It’s been my experience working with first time business owners and salespeople that it’s instinctual to group “everyone” into the “user of my product/service” category. We want everyone to fall in love with our wares. It’s also been my first-hand experience that no, not everyone is your ideal prospect (or client, partner, etc).  Some customers can actually cost you money! How, you ask?

By being so different from you, and most importantly your core values and beliefs, that you are forced to repeatedly convince them why they need you. Then you have the added burden of selling them your product or service. Then you have to constantly reinforce their decisions just to retain them. Have you recognized your worst clients yet?

So what’s to do about it? Repeat after me: “Just like them”.

Be yourself. Be genuine, heartfelt, grateful. Be true to your beliefs. Be nice. And be visible in the marketplace doing all those things. Show people how much they will benefit by you being in their lives. Show them how they’ll be treated as part of your group. Show them how you value the same things they do and believe in the same things they do. They’ll be much more open-minded to hearing about how your product or service can help them. You’ll be surrounded by people that are just like you. And they’ll bring people just like them to hear your message. And they’ll bring more just like them…

Oh, and be polite.  Say “Thank You!”

Thank You for Being You!

Todd Pillars