"Hey, man, can you introduce me to so-and-so? I could really use a favor. Or maybe you could take a look at my resume for me?" These questions above are completely normal in the context of a friendship, or even a workplace. People, I've always believed, are glad to help.
But as times get tougher, this is changing. Financial pressures increase, with more and more executives and middle-managers delivering pizza or making coffee for a living, the favor bank seems to be drying up.
Core Problem: People are Scared.
Symptom: People Get Angry.
Result: People Are Less Likely To Help
Solution: OFFER TO HELP!
If you're in business for yourself, or if you're still employed, make absolutely, positively sure that your product or service solves a problem your customer has. No one cares about your problems. They care about their own problems, their own jobs, their own businesses, their own survival. This is a sad thing, but it's a true thing. DO NOT bring your issues to other people.
Meanwhile, you've still got to survive. You need to sell your product or service. You need to keep your job. The last thing any of us wants is to become a foreclosure statistic. Here's how to do that.
Give people their reasons for doing your thing. If I want you to buy my Social Networking Wizard service - and I do - then I had damned well better have a very good reason for even starting the conversation.
For example:
Hey! Do you need a job? I can help you get one. How? Well, my company can set up your Linkedin, Facebook Twitter, Delicious, and Skype accounts for you in no time flat and then people can start finding you online. You will look like an expert in your field. Your profile can bubble to the top of search results. Your qualifications will be more noticeable to hiring managers. So again, if you want a job, we can help. Just click here!
See? That paragraph is all about your reasons to do my thing. It also happens to be true, by the way. We can do all that stuff for you, and more. But the only way your going to get even a hint of attention is if you are focused entirely on the needs of your customer. This alone will set you apart from the crowd.
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