Avoid the "BIGSHOT" Syndrome!

Over 30 years ago I was teaching a continuing education class in New York City where I lived for 20 years.

The class was on the same topic I still teach and coach about. Turning your knowledge into cash.

I walked into the room reserved for the class. I was pretty bummed. 

The room could hold about 35 and all I had was 5 people.

It's tough to deliver the same quality of "performance" when the numbers were so low, BUT, I had an obligation. 

The people who were there deserved the same quality of class regardless of how many showed up. It may not have been as fun for me, but they didn't deserve to be "short-changed" because the number of attendees was so low.

I gave it my all and did, what I thought to be, a great class. No one complained!

A few months later, one of the people in the class got in touch. As it turns out, she was the editor of a major business publication. 

She hadn't told me that in class.

Long story short, I ended up getting some pretty good money from a consulting job that resulted.

There are a couple of lessons (and more) that I learned from this experience.

First, no matter how many people are in your audience, live or online, they deserve the best presentation and content that you have. It's THEIR time and THEY deserve the best you got!

Second, you never know who's in your audience. I certainly didn't at that time of the class. 

You won't know either!

Back to the title of this article: What do I mean by the term: "The Bigshot Syndrome"?

Another story to illustrate.

I recently sent a Facebook message to a new person who friended me. 

They blew me off. Never responded. 

It later became obvious (to them) that the biggest problem they were having was something I was ideally qualified to help them with.

After they had consulted with some other BIGSHOT friends, they were told to speak with me! HA!

They then contacted me in a state of near desperation. 

NO. I didn't blow them off and say: "You realize you never responded to me when I messaged you on Facebook, so I have no interest in helping you now."

I have to admit, a small portion of my being wanted to say exactly that. BUT, I held my tongue. I seem to be getting better at that as I get older!

Here's the lesson to be learned.

No matter how seeming "small" or "insignificant" someone is who contacts you, do some investigating before you blow them off.

If it's not you who screens these messages or emails, tell your "team" to do the same.

It's possible there may be some real value in some of the LITTLE people (my apologies to those who fall into that actual category - lol, whoever they are!) who contact you.

Don't be a BIGSHOT. There are people out there who could be very valuable to you. Be careful who you "blow off" without any contact.

#coaching; #consulting; #information marketing