Know how you wonder why some people just seem luckier?
They just seem to be able to find work like contracts, or things just happen to fall into their lap?
Well let me propose something radical:
Maybe they just simply ask for it, put their hat forward, and deliver.
Case in point: Asking for quotes for a job
My sister just recently needed her walls to be repainted, and she wanted to put up wallpaper.
She called around, asking for people to quote, and even asked friends who might be interested in a little side work.
She didn’t know what it’d cost, but if it was too much, she was willing to rope in some family slave labour help to get the job done for free, with some major coaxing and whining.
Out of the 15 people she contacted, guess how many replied? 5.
Out of the 5, guess how many replied after she gave them an idea of what she wanted? 3.
Out of that 3, guess how many actually understood what she wanted and offered a guesstimate instead of coming back with more “fees” and questions? 1.
She hired him.
He had no competition and he was professional, did it as his regular job as a contractor and delivered on time.
When someone offers you a job or money, no matter how small, take it seriously
Don’t sit around on it.
If you’re busy, come right out and say so, or offer someone else whom you know is a professional and may be able to handle it for quick at a reasonable price.
This is a future referral word-of-mouth thing that is worth its weight in gold.
So if you don’t at least shoot a quick email to decline after hearing the job, you’re pretty much a deadbeat and there’s a black mark against you in terms of customer service and general reliability.
Then your word of mouth? Disappears. She might have recommended you to a friend or family member, but not any more. She’ll just recommend the guy that stepped up and did the quote rather than ladi-dahing around.
Sometimes, people are just testing you with a small job.
Then the next time something big comes along, you are the first person they call because you took them seriously for a small job, passed the test with flying colours and are in their good books.
All the rest? Forget it. They squandered their chance to make a good impression.
Don’t feign interest, and then drop off the face of the earth
It is far more respectable to tell someone: Hey I’m too busy for this / This is way more than I can handle, than to blow them off for 2-3 weeks without a peep.
People ask for a quote because they want something done. Usually right away or as soon as you can.
If you don’t reply, how do you ever expect to get a job?
It’s like being offered a job after going to an interview and then saying: Mmm… let me think about it for 2 months, and not bother to decline or accept within a reasonable time frame.
This is where people lose money, by being offered an opportunity either indirectly or directly, and then not bothering to follow up on the job, take it seriously, understand what a person might want and take the money.
So you don’t want the money?
Fine. But don’t complain about people who hustle and step up to the plate when a job has to be done.
This is how a reputation is built and this is how people get more business. They promise and they deliver.
Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver.
I cleared $60,000 in 18 months earning $65,000 gross/year.
Now I am self-employed, and you can read more about 
This is actually faily common when it comes to small businesses. In my experience, when working with them to improve their marketing, many of them are actually quite clueless when it comes to the business-side of their business. Many of are nothing more than people who perform the service, and happen to own the company. Spending the time and energy as a small business owner to learn marketing and business principles pays huge dividends.
Agreed. Perhaps this is partly the reason why 90% of small businsses fail.
Honesty and integrity…I wish more had more of both. It’s always astounding to me how some people who have their own business can seem too bothered to return calls or give swift quotes. Its all about attitude – I’ve make the decision to pass on someone, even when their work was the best, simply because they had a lackluster demeanor.
Exactly!!
I want to do business with people who are excited to take my money 😛
Great post. It’s all about integrity. If you have it in your word and actions, it will take you very far and build trust amongst your peers and colleagues.
Your post motivated me to respond to some emails I’d been ignoring. I couldn’t serve the people who contacted me, but I need to get in the habit of being more responsive even to those I can’t help.
I used to talk myself out of trying because I was afraid of competition. As indicated in your post, competition isn’t as fierce as one might think. It’s truly amazing how many people don’t respond, follow up, or deliver on time. Doing what you’re supposed to do as a professional and serving others as you’d like to be served goes a really long way. Thanks for spreading the word.
A-freaking-men. I’ve become increasingly frustrated with how hard it is to get people to do their job. Just simple tasks, like replying to emails and sending out letters, is like pulling teeth most the time.
It amazes me how often I’ll enquire with a business about their services and they just straight up don’t get back to me. It’s like, do you want my money or not? So when I come across someone competent and efficient it’s like a breath of fresh air and I’ll work with them whenever possible.
I’m self employed as well, and I’m never short of work because I offer quality and reliability. I know clients sometimes even try someone else who charges less but then they come back to me after getting stuffed around. My competitors make it way too easy for me!
I agree 100%. I hate when I send an email out asking a question and never hear back. If anything this has made me be more mindful of it. I am a huge pushover, this is a trait I am working on, so I am usually replying back YES, I’LL DO IT. But at least I reply back. People are afraid to say NO, so instead they avoid the situation but all this does is make you look FLAKY, rather then busy. Everyone is busy…. that’s normal, but flaky people are people I don’t want to spend my time with. So come out and say it. You will save more friends that way! 🙂 Great Post!
This is SO true! I work in sales and it’s amazing how easy it is to sell when you just show people that you are interested and are responsive. I think that my success in sales is due greatly upon the fact that I am honest and responsive to my customers. 🙂
When someone offer me payment in exchange for service (blog), I jump on it and get it done as soon as I can. Who knows if they’ll change their mind/budget tomorrow. 😀
Definitely agree with this. My full-time job is for a general contractor in Canada – I can’t tell you the number of awful contractors are out there. Make sure you find someone reliable, and make sure you know EXACTLY what you are paying for – you are bound to get gouged if you take these two pieces of advice lightly.
That being said, if anyone has trouble with contractors or such, give me a shout: dan at howtobeaweso.me