When the answer is No.
Recently a good friend and fellow entrepreneur and I talked about prospective clients. The conversation was very enlightening because as an entrepreneur we generally talk about our dreams, visions, work load, next venture, our achievements and some of the prospects but we seldom talk about when the answer is “No”. The word no can come from the prospective client or from you. She shared some helpful tools regarding meeting with prospective clients and not feeling that you have to bring down your prices or try very hard to get the deal but relax and state what you offer and the cost. It was very helpful to me because in the service industry you must ensure that the services you provide are being compensated. With the world we live in today and the decline in professional and outstanding customer service, it is worth every dime to enjoy some good old fashion hospitality. As we continued to talk, I was reminded of a time when I had to say “No” to a prospective client. There are times when integrity and just doing what you know is right must be the priority.
Yes, I wanted the business;
Yes, I needed to get my name out there;
Yes, I believe I could do what was being asked; and
Yes, most importantly, I wanted to get compensated.
BUT
Neither business, popularity, success nor money can take the place of knowing you are doing the right thing.
So when “No” is the answer – Rejoice. Thanks to my friend and fellow entrepreneur for reminding me about the importance of appreciating when the answer is NO.