Corporate Suits – a term affectionately directed toward corporate America – don’t have time to deal with many of the more important aspects of actually saving money, becoming more efficient and doing their jobs properly.
They know what they should be doing, but the situation simply does not allow this luxury. Yes, it is a problem.
For example, decision makers often do not have the time to:
- explore ways to improve systems
- deal with problems and issues that are important
- plan for the future proactively
- identify critical success factors
- determin gaps in their own environment
- implement much-needed strategies
They often just have enough time to slap on a few band-aids. Short term fixes. For what seems like survival purposes, they have come to live with and accept the status quo as a way of doing business.
What this means to you is that you have to come up with something really “big,” something worth listening to if you are going to schedule that all-important first meeting. Then, you have to give them your best shot.
Let me tell you what you can’t do:
- You can’t afford to waste their time.
- You don’t want to become their “friend”
- You can’t expect them to educate you on their business
- You can’t give them a “product dump” once you do manage some face time
I realize that in this post I have not told you what you “should” do or “need” to do. Maybe if you reverse the above four bullet points you will have an idea of what you can do. Use your imagination and salt in a little creativity. Hold on. We will get there.
But first things first.
I want to make sure you don’t voluntarily shoot yourself in the foot.
I want you to be thinking straight.
Read this post again.