I didn't sign up to volunteer ... Oh wait, I quess I did !

It was bitterly cold but the next business was just 20 or 30 steps from the next one and that one was close to the 3rd but I was getting farther and farther away from my car.  What to do?

I had volunteered to sit on the Board of Directors of our community day care centre.  As with any non-profit organization, fundraising was a large part of the agenda each month.  I volunteered to gather the advertisers together to fund a community birthday calendar.  Only 35 businesses participating and the calendar would be paid for and the rest was ours to keep.  Pretty darn good deal for the daycare, a pittance for the business owners to purchase the advertising and for me personally?  Frozen toes, nose and ears.

I personally wanted to see each and every business owner, leaving a good impression because little did they know it, but next month I was going to be back asking for much bigger and out right contributions to a specific project the Day Care was planning.  I was sowing the seeds of good will and harmony in anticipation of that event.

Just like my network marketing business.

The whole process reminded me so much of my network marketing business.  I had compiled a list, I was contacting the list either through person to person, phone, voice mail, email and some by fax.  Did they know I was coming?  No, so in essence they were what we would call a cold calling list.

Some listened patiently to my explanation before they said either yes or no, some wanted more information, some I had to leave the info there and call them back, some I had to fax the info to their head office and talk to so and so, some I had to leave messages for.  Of which some called me back and some didn’t.

Just like leads. 

Did I spend a lot of time with the ones who frowned, listened and said I’ll think about it?  Nope.  I did give them the courtesy of calling them back when I said I would.  If they weren’t there or didn’t respond to a message, I did make a 3rd attempt to get in touch with them.  But were they a priority – NO !!  I spent more time with the ones who wanted to participate but needed approval from head office, the ones who wanted me to help them with copy, the ones who said yes but call me back on Friday and we’ll work on the ad.  And the ones who called ME with another question. 

Just like leads. 

Work with the willing, with the enthusiastic, with the ones who make an effort for you. 

Just like leads.

Do the courtesy thing of calling them back when you said you would but quit chasing the ones who don’t really want to make a difference in their lives, the ones who just wish away their life rather than take the responsibility to do something for themselves.

Otherwise you’re volunteering, in the cold, with the only thing keeping you warm is your thoughts that you are actually running a business.

You’re not !

There are lots of businesses (leads) out there and if one of them doesn’t meet you half way (at least) walk over to the next one – the one who wants to be a part of whatever you are doing.

Then you will see progress in your own business.  Volunteering is for volunteers not business owners.