Life in Business: On Being Honest
I am a salesperson. I hate to admit it because of the negative connotations but that is what I do. I’m constantly selling something to either the media, new business prospects, or potential sponsors of an event.
The one thing that bothers me most is when people aren’t honest with me. They lead me on and give me hope that they will either write about my client, provide me with a new opportunity or sponsor an event that I am running. I chase and call and after a little while, they stop answering. It feels like maybe they didn’t get my message, which makes me want to reach out again.
I get my persistence from my dad. If he can’t reach me, he keeps calling me until I pick up the phone. I do the same thing except not with family members, I do it with people I’m trying to “sell” to.
The other day, a friend I recently met, told me that she would like to introduce me to a couple of people she thought would want to sponsor an event that I was running. She sent us a text message introduction. (I didn’t love that because I don’t really like strangers having my cell.)
The first person got back to me and tried to sell me business coaching services. I was a little confused. My friend had told me that this person could help me get sponsorships. Hmmm?
I thanked the business coach and told her that I was not interested.
The second person was a financial planner. My friend had told me he could potentially sponsor my event. I wrote to him and told him it was nice to meet him. I didn’t hear back from him until a week or so later.
His message said that he would like to set up an appointment with me to discuss my needs. I knew that he would be trying to sell me. I wrote him back nicely and said:
I want to be upfront and straight with you. I would like to talk with you to see if your firm would be interested in sponsoring an event I’m running. Let me know if this is something under your jurisdiction. Best, Hilary
He responds appropriately:
I appreciate the straightness. I believe event sponsorships get handled by the corporate marketing department, but I’m not sure. Best of luck in your project. I’m sorry I could not be of assistance.
I respond back to him. (Maybe I should have left well enough alone.)
I just didn’t want to waste your time thinking that you would sell me on financial services. It’s nice to meet you and I wish you the best as well.
Then he blew by saying:
Our mutual friend said you were doing great things and may be looking for support of some kind. It never occurred to me as anything other than that. It seems as if my industry has created a negative representation for you; for that I apologize.
Considering that, perhaps consider this feedback. In the future, you may want to lead in with what you are creating, and your mission. Your email came across dismissive. That created a poor feeling before I knew anything about your cause.
Did I say anything that was inappropriate to have this guy say this? I asked him if he was the appropriate person to talk with about sponsorships. He told me no. I told him that I just wanted to be honest and upfront that I was not in the need for a financial person and he came back to me saying that I created poor feelings? Is there something wrong here with this picture?
