Have you ever considered how your attitude about time might affect the way customers – or potential customers – might feel about you?
If you always have time for them – immediately, every time they call – they might think they are your only customer. And then they will wonder if they made the right choice.
On the other hand, if you act rushed and too busy to relax and talk with them, they will look for someone else. I well remember a loan officer who was doing a terrible job on a transaction for me. Every time I needed to talk to him I had to call multiple times and he failed to return calls. When I finally reached him the answer was always the same: He had 27 calls to return after lunch and just was too busy to call back.
He was probably trying to impress me with the number of clients he had. My true impression was that he was ignoring everyone and soon he would have NO customers. I sure would never use him again! Of course, the delays were never his fault. He always told me so.
Even if you are just starting out and have no customers yet, do not tell the world. Instead, make some appointments with yourself and write them in your day planner. Then keep them – because you need to spend some time on your marketing plan.
But the best part is, when someone wants to meet with you on Thursday morning at 10 you will be telling the truth when you say you already have an appointment, but may be able to juggle things around to accomodate them.
You need to let your customers know that you are busy – but that you will always make time to take care of them.
And now, for a bit of nonsense. I have no idea why, but tonight this program will not let me use an apostrophe in a word. I do not usually say “do not” and “I will” and “You will.” Funny creatures, these computers. They do as they please and do not care if we like it or not!
My writing tonight reminds me of “Green Eggs and Ham.” Remember the line: “I do not like them, Sam I am?”
