It doesn't matter how good you are,
you still have to tell people

There was a plumber, Mr. P, who had worked for Mr. A's Plumbing Company for 25 years in a small city of 50,000 people. Mr. P was widely recognized as the best plumber in the city and was very well liked. Mr. A knew it, and had always made a great effort to keep Mr. P happy and working for Mr. A's Plumbing Company, so Mr. A decided to throw Mr. P the city's largest party to recognize Mr. P's 25 years of service.

It was the biggest celebration the city had ever seen. Stores closed, banks closed, the post office closed. Everyone came to the party and congratulated Mr. P on his 25 years.

That night, Mr. P was upset that all he got for his 25 years of service to Mr. A was a party, so Mr. P decided to open his own plumbing business, and he did. He knew that people would come to him for all their plumbing needs.

Although Mr. P was a great plumber, he was not a great business person. Mr. P did not understand that it doesn't matter how good you are, you still have to tell people. Mr. P sat back resting on his laurels
and waited for people to come to him. He neglected to do any marketing,
relying on his reputation.

Unfortunately for Mr. P, when people called Mr. A's Plumbing Company and asked for Mr. P, Mr. A simply said that Mr. P didn't work there anymore and offered to send his new plumber, and at a lower rate. In a couple of cases, Mr. A even went to do the work himself, also at a lower rate.

Six months later, Mr. P was back working for Mr. A.

You might think you're the best in the business, and you might be, but if you don't tell people, and don't give them good contact information, you'll be sitting there all day telling yourself how good you are and wondering why your competition is getting all the business.

 

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16 Comments on It doesn't matter how good you are, you still have to tell people

AUG
18
2010
1,331,268 Points 189 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Russel, self promotion and getting the word out and working your referrals is the key to keeping business going and getting it in the first place.
1:51pm • #1
689,095 Points 22 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great article Russel,  we have all seen businesses fail because the owners thought they would succeed by just hanging out their shingle.
3:06pm • #2
532,155 Points 45 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Excellent point Russel, Brain Buffini tells a simlar story in his presentations, don;t be afraid to tell people that you are always looking for new clients
3:49pm • #3

Hi Russel, great post.  If people don't know you are there - in their mind you don't exist.  Thanks for stressing the fundamentals.
3:59pm • #4
316,022 Points 2 Featured Posts

Russel - Great post.  Extensive marketing and social networking is the key to business success.  Waiting for the phone to ring will never bring any business.
4:34pm • #6
154,608 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Russel, are you telling us until the market changes we need to become plumbers?

Great story. I had not heard that before.
4:53pm • #7
867,336 Points 18 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Russel ~  This is a very illustrative story.  I was amazed that some of my past clients forgot the name of my company.. It is important to stay top of mind.  We cannot assume that people who like us will remember our name or our company's name when life happens.  It is important to remind them all the time.
5:03pm • #8
1,117,308 Points 118 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Russel this is an excellent point for agents. So many have no idea how to 'open a business' and don't even realize that is what they're doing as an independent contractor. They act more like employees. I was just talking about this very subject with a fellow broker this morning.  She loves teaching people how to be an entrepreneur.

Featured in BananaTude!

 
6:40pm • #9
921,476 Points 81 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Called Shot Master

Russel, You have to 'put' yourself in front of clients constantly to remind them why they hired you the first time! Great post!
10:09pm • #10
271,439 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Russel ~ You are so right. This is a great post for any agent to read. Sometimes we need to be reminded to put ourselves out there and show people how good we are!
10:34pm • #11
AUG
19
2010
1,063,951 Points 12 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Russel, another great post!  Sometimes we let our own modesty get in the way of properly promoting ourselves.
1:14am • #12
239,220 Points Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp

Russel,

Great story! Networking and promoting is the key to success!
6:21am • #13
1,069,376 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

the very BEST thing is when everyone else tells everyone else how wonderful we/you/they are....ahhh...referrals !
6:32am • #14
156,434 Points 2 Featured Posts

Russell,

Great post.  It is very important that we keep telling people what we do, how well we do it.  But the best is when our customers tell others what we do and how well we do it.

 
8:26am • #15
498,909 Points 150 Featured Posts Outside Blog Hit Router Called Shot Master

Very wise words ... from you and Mr. Iacocca, Russel.  The story gets the message through loud and clear ...

Gene 
9:12am • #16
AUG
21
2010
302,368 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Russel, good story.  Unfortunately the first thing many firms are doing these days to save money is to cut out or cut back on the advertizing.  I wonder how it is affecting the admen in New York.
4:34pm • #17


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Jim Frimmer, Realtor and CDPE, Mission Valley, CA DRE #01458572

San Diego, CA

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