There's nothing we Ntro's like more than a wedding, a funeral, a Christmas party or a Candle party... right?
Uh, no. Not so much. Just the sight of a wedding invitation puts a panicky feeling in the pit of my stomach that just gets bigger as the big day draws near. A whole afternoon and maybe evening of small talk with strangers? Not my cup of tea. I dread it.
But here's the thing. You, as a self-employed real estate-type, need to go. Now if you were a writer or a computer programmer or a 911 operator, you could probably get away with sending a nice gift and spending that Saturday curled up on the sofa with your cats. But ... nope. You're in the business of, well, generating business!
Do I mean that you should go to this wedding and hand out your business cards to every poor sap you meet there? Gawd, NO. NO NO NO NO NO! Leave those cards in the car! (you can always go grab one if absolutely necessary).
You go because it's the right thing to do. You were obviously special enough to the hosts (the bride & groom) to be included on the guest list. Showing Up will let them know that you think they're special enough to honor with your presence.
And making people feel special is a super way to build your business. Will the bride and groom buy a house from you because you showed up at their wedding? I dunno. But I guarantee you have a much better shot at it than if you didn't. And then there's all those people that the bride & groom know...
The same thing goes for funerals, housewarming parties, birthday parties, baby showers and such. Good opportunities to prospect? No. Good opportunities to show someone you care? Yes.
I'm really bad at this actually. I'll come up any excuse under the sun to get out of attending a social function. Not 'cause I don't care about my friend, really, but can we be brutally honest for a moment? I don't show up 'cause I care more about my social discomfort than about my friend. There, I said it.
So, in this instance... do as I say, not as I do!
copyright Jennifer Allan 2007
Comments (9)Subscribe to CommentsComment