I’m about to hop on CopyChief Radio with Kevin Rogers.
We’re talking about police brutality specifically, and the general silence of leaders who haven’t connected with their audience over this issue (even though all of our customers are affected by it).
More on that to come.
For now, I’m reminded of one of my favorite people ever, performer, Gene Kelly, and his movie— An American in Paris.
Kelly plays Jerry Mulligan, a struggling artist.
When a college student tries to critique his paintings, and wants to “discuss it”, he assertively says:
“You’re not gonna buy anything, you’re just blocking out the sunshine.
I don’t want you to discuss my work. I’m not interested in your opinion of my work.
If you say something nice, it won’t make me feel any better. If you don’t, it’ll bother me. Thank you. Good day.”
Jerry Mulligan, my kind of leader. Even though he’s broke, he gets that the work is what it is. If you get it and dig it, you buy it. Not complicated.
This was 1951, meanwhile in 2016, you’re dealing with the same thing, but in reverse.
You’re reaching out to unqualified buyers and discussing your work with them. And it’s dark and obnoxious isn’t it?
Of course it is. They’re blocking out the sun with their silly questions or worse not following through with what you teach.
Constantly making excuses or delaying when they’ll be ready to work with you, while you leave space on your calendar for them.
Same cats who negotiate your rates, and tell you to work for free (for a “little” while). Then when it comes time to collect, they don’t pay on time.
And at times they tell you you’re wrong or can’t do what you’re doing even as you’re already doing it and showing them the results to prove it.
WTF!?
Listen, it’s not your job to teach people to like you, appreciate you or even to want to do business with you.
Your role and responsibility is to create something solid, present it at the right time in the right person’s life, and sell it to paying customers.
All of this relates to the topic I’m discussing in a moment with The Chief, Kevin Rogers, and Podcast Mogul, Jonathan Rivera.
Because what’s good for business is good for overcoming global social ills that plague us all.
For “controversial” advanced business lessons that are so obvious but commonly overlooked, check out TOP OF MIND.
All fired up,
Max!