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Life Health > Running Your Business > Prospecting

Tomorrow is (not) another day

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Adrian Miller Sales Training

Certainly Scarlett O’Hara could bat her eyelashes and exclaim that “tomorrow is another day.” However, in this current economy, such blatant procrastination is not just dumb; it’s downright self-destructive.

We have never experienced an economic period quite like this one where so many aspects of it are faltering. Companies are downsizing, budgets are being cut, and opportunities are being lost each and every day. Success now requires being smart, quick, and tremendously proactive. An attitude of complacency is no longer feasible for anyone who plans on making it through to the other side of this recession.

For those who are the “early birds”, the “busy bees”, and the all-around “go-getters,” there are still plenty of opportunities. If you’re not a “Johnny on the spot” here’s what you need to do to become competitive in this increasingly challenging marketplace:

Make Prospecting Calls
Prospecting should be at the top of your “to do” list each and every day. While other aspects of your job are also important, prospecting is the task that has the greatest possibilities of bringing in money. So, make it your priority.

Network
Opportunities for networking abound – particularly during tough times. There are endless online and in-person events and get-togethers that can get you one step closer to a new client. Seek them out and make it a point to go to several each and every week. Help those you can with the contacts that you have and make new contacts with those you wouldn’t otherwise meet.

Call Existing Clients
You need to cross-sell, up-sell, and continue to remind your existing customers that you are still in the game. You’ve heard this all before, but now it’s more important than ever. Uncover every opportunity to serve your existing client base, and you’ll discover a multitude of new sales.

Develop Your Skills
Resting on your laurels just doesn’t fly anymore. You better be up to speed on the latest technologies, software and lingo. Are you falling behind? Make it a point to keep learning and growing so that you’ll be ahead of the game. This isn’t the time to be deemed the old dinosaur who can’t use a computer.

Procrastination isn’t a life sentence. You can change, and yes, the change must begin today. Once you begin to make the necessary changes, you’ll quickly find that you’re getting more done and making far fewer excuses for your lack of productivity. As the famous Roman lyric poet Horace said over two thousand years ago, “carpe diem” – seize the day!


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