The Winner's Sales Strategy Blog

How *not* to get an appointment

To start off my Monday I had an interesting conversation with my executive assistant:

She was contacted last week by another sales author (name withheld here for obvious reasons.) This author contacted her to request a meeting with me. When my assistant naturally asked, "What is this regarding," the author stated that he/she would prefer not to say and to speak with me privately, "as one professional to another" as he/she put it.

When my assistant, a.k.a. my gatekeeper, replied that she needs to know what the meeting is about and that she may be able to help her instead, the author insulted my gatekeeper (you NEVER insult gatekeepers!) and demanded to speak with me and only me.

When my assistant again denied the request, he/she then emailed with two dates and times that he/she'd be available to meet me, again with no information as to why he/she would like to meet with me. My assistant again replied that I do not accept appointments when I have no idea what they're about. She also explained that ever since I've become a NY Times bestseller, I've been inundated with dozens and sometimes over a hundred requests from authors each month for endorsements, assistance with book promotions, and so on.

(Over 3,000 new books are released every day - EVERY DAY - so you can imagine how many requests for help and endorsements bestselling authors get.)

In any case, this person should not be an author in the sales world, as he/she has no idea to even get an appointment, and has now insulted and infuriated my assistant who will make sure he/she never gets to meet with me, ever.

I just thought I'd share this with the world, because what happened here is a sure way to NOT get an appointment with a decision maker!!

ATTN: Los Angeles area meeting planners and VP/Director level executives

If you are one of the following:

- Speakers bureau
- Meeting planner
- VP or Director level executive
-Media

Then I've got a handful of guest passes for an upcoming speaking engagement, Friday, October 19th in the L.A. area. If you're interested in attending, please email [email protected] with your:

Name
Company
Title
Phone Number
Email

I'll be giving my keynote speech, "Never Pursue Again."

Thanks!

My all-new website is live!

My all-new website, FrankRumbauskas.com, is live!

www.FrankRumbauskas.com

Enjoy!

My "Personal Power Points"

I posted this a while back, but it's so important for people to understand and use these Personal Power Points that I decided to post it again, this time as a downloadable .pdf:

Frank's Personal Power Points

Enjoy!

Social Dynamics at Starbucks?

I had an interesting experience at the Starbucks down the street from my office.

Normally I go in and the cashier is very courteous, with a "What can I get for you, sir?"

Today, it was more along the lines of, "Hey, what's goin' on?"

Very casual, laid-back, informal ... but by approaching me as an equal rather than a superior, he put me more at ease than those who call me "sir" and there was a level of mutual respect rather than a superior vs. inferior dynamic going on.

Just a small example, but it goes to show how presenting yourself as a business equal doesn't intimidate, but instead places the other party at ease and builds instant trust and respect.