When to Say No!

I went to Home Depot to get matching hummingbird pillows that Lynne saw on the Internet.?While checking out the lady in front of me asked, “Who are the pillows for?”?My reply, “For me.”?With her curious look I went on to explain that my company logo includes a hummingbird.?She then asked, “What do you do?”?Rather than delivering my Defining Statement I gave her the short answer, “I grow businesses.”?She then asked, “Do you do start-ups?”?“Yes,” was my answer.

She then went on to explain she had recently discovered a new holistic system of healing that she thought could be a wonderful business.?Wanting to get away from her nine to five job she was considering an entrepreneurial business model.?Her conversation was littered with swear words.?I stopped using swear words in 1994 in every day conversation, as I was becoming self-employed.?Before that I swore frequently.?I am offended by people today who frequently use swear words in daily conversation.

She continued to talk, telling me that she is 53 years old, has had failing relationships with blood relatives, divorced, living with a boyfriend she met four months ago.?As we left the store she asked if she could touch my restored 1976 Corvette.

As she continued to present her story she asked if I could help her, to which I agreed.?She then did something that was unique, caused me to pause.?She invited herself and her boyfriend to dinner at our house.?After pausing, I thought to myself, “What I instruct prospects and clients to do often requires them to get outside of their comfort zone.?I like that!”?Thus I agreed to check with Lynne and get back to her.

The next morning, just after nine, I called her.?We engaged in more conversation about her business and what we do at INTEGRITY Institute to create relationship prior to making a prospect a client.?When I started to explain the relationship building process she interrupted me yelling, “Stop with the sales pitch.”?The sentence in quotes before this has been sanitized for your eyes.?Believe it or not the conversation continued.

She then went on to tell me she already had a business plan.?It is to sit in the park to give away what she recently learned for free.?Over time she would be able to charge a fee for her services.?After a pleasant good bye I hung up the phone.?I then reflected on the two conversations we had.??

When working with people in business who want to attract the right prospects and generate more referrals I need to be confident that they can complete the program successfully prior to engaging them as clients.?After the two conversations above I am sure this relationship would have failed miserably.?Here is why:

·??????Language

·??????Free business plan

·??????Interrupting me midsentence

·??????Failed relationships

·??????Lack of spiritual compass

Please allow me to explain.?Language can be cleared of foul words, business plans can be designed, and people who interrupt can be taught to change.?All three together are game changers.?I know what it is like to offer free information.?I too did so when I started my business.?I failed when asking to be paid.?When a person is lacking of a spiritual compass their ability to believe in future success is limited.

The point is this, as much as I would have liked to help this person, I no longer need to do so.?There was a time when I would look past these faults and support change.?Desperation would allow me to pursue a prospect like this 30 years ago.?Today it is easier to just say, “No!”

For questions and more information see contact access below:

What are you willing to do to attract the right prospects and generate more referrals? To contact INTEGRITY Networking Solutions for availability and information, call/text 760-439-4623.?You can contact Gerry by mail at 5107 W. Wild Burro Spring Drive, Marana, AZ 85658,?e-mail to?[email protected] .?For more information, go to?www.integritysd.com

Gerry Rose runs INTEGRITY Networking Solutions in Marana, AZ.?He works with people in business who want to attract the right prospects and generate more referrals.?More than 10,000 businesses have been presented the INTEGRITY Networking Solutions system in San Diego, Riverside, Orange Counties, California and now in Arizona.

Gerry’s stimulating presentation?Unlimited Prospects, Unlimited Referrals?is ideally suited for small business owners, home-based businesses, and independent professionals who want clearer direction and want to attract more prospects, develop dynamic systems, and strengthen their companies’ accountability.?Gerry does one on one consulting, conducts a range of keynote speeches from thirty minutes to full-day education workshops.?His book series,?Unlimited Prospects, Unlimited Referrals, are available on the website,?www.integritysd.com .

Gerry has more than 20 years’ experience directing business owners how to grow their businesses.?He is a networking dynamo.?Those who know him will assure you that he does a great job of bringing people together—which is why he started Integrity.?Involved with networking organizations since 1984, Gerry is a Distinguished Toastmaster, a member of Toastmaster International, and has chaired numerous chambers of commerce and non-profit organizations.