Is it a numbers game?

I was thinking today about how much our roles have changed over the last 10 years...

Very quick back-story... 10 years ago just after leaving the military, I was presenting a SaaS HR/Payroll solution via PP slides on an old laptop on my lap to businesses between 5-50 employees. I remember doing this once to a mechanic garage owner whilst he was changing an oil filter on a car. There I was laptop in hand hitting 'next slide' and rabbiting on about how our platform could revolutionise things for them... proper cringe..

Another time I was in an old bingo hall sat on a empty crate of cheap wine talking to the owner of this bingo hall. It was packed full of people playing bingo for the afternoon session. The bingo caller every now and then had to clear his throat and would do this by spitting into a bucket next to him.

I remember once meeting a business owner in a pub. He was dressed as a chicken and was due to be picked up for his stag do. Glorious times.

I parked up at many, many industrial estates, getting out my car and door knocking asking to speak to 'whoever manages your payroll'.. gosh it was rough..

I 'cut my teeth' but in truth I hated it. I didn't enjoy what I felt was 'old school' selling and myself and my leader at the time couldn't align on a strategy. For him it was a numbers game but for me that didn't float my boat.

Maybe a numbers game is the right way for some organisations, I get that. The more calls you make and all that..

But I do think the world is changing. It should be more about the quality of those interactions, not how many.

We need to better understand our customers and prospects more. We need to really care about their businesses, their challenges and really try to help them.. whether there is skin in the game for us or not.

It's a small world and people will always remember how you made them feel. Irrespective of whether you have sold them anything or not.

Would love to hear of any great old stories you have ! :-)