I was so nervous I was dripping sweat when I bought my first business Pearl Resourcing and did cold call sales a tradeshow. Eek! đ
I paced around the hotel where the show was located and I thought about not going and canceling. What if people reject me, turn me down, make fun of me or worse⌠think I was a fraud?
I took a deep breath and inspite of my fear⌠I walked into the show, smiled, said hello to everyone I passed and shook hands confidently. I shifted my thinking and got interested in other people and asked questionsâŚ. About how they felt that day, their favorite drink at Starbucks or how their show was going. I found bottles of water and brought them to people who looked busy and thirsty (without them asking). I Googled brands best-selling products to start a smart conversation where I wouldnât look completely ignorant. I asked if there were any leads they personally had that they were worried they wouldnât be able to close to find pain points I could help with. I just went for it.
I paced around the hotel where the show was located and I thought about not going and canceling. What if people reject me, turn me down, make fun of me or worse⌠think I was a fraud?
I took a deep breath and inspite of my fear⌠I walked into the show, smiled, said hello to everyone I passed and shook hands confidently. I shifted my thinking and got interested in other people and asked questionsâŚ. About how they felt that day, their favorite drink at Starbucks or how their show was going. I found bottles of water and brought them to people who looked busy and thirsty (without them asking). I Googled brands best-selling products to start a smart conversation where I wouldnât look completely ignorant. I asked if there were any leads they personally had that they were worried they wouldnât be able to close to find pain points I could help with. I just went for it.
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By the end of the show I got a $25k purchase order from a large company and met tons of people who became my clients for the next 10 years of my packaging business resulting in millions of dollars in business.
What if I hadnât gone? I wouldnât of experienced a dream I had and I would not of been able to keep my business alive.
There is POWER in showing up. So you have to do it. You have to GO where your clients are and just be there. At a minimum just stand or sit there and be friendly. Start there.
To get the maximum out of it⌠look to enjoy the people you meet and help them succeed.
How did I find the strength to show up when I felt this way?
What if I hadnât gone? I wouldnât of experienced a dream I had and I would not of been able to keep my business alive.
There is POWER in showing up. So you have to do it. You have to GO where your clients are and just be there. At a minimum just stand or sit there and be friendly. Start there.
To get the maximum out of it⌠look to enjoy the people you meet and help them succeed.
How did I find the strength to show up when I felt this way?
- Focus on the other people around you and work to make sure they have a good time â People want to work with people they like and fixating on someone else besides yourself will surprisingly make you ignore your own feelings so you feel better. My favorite way to do that is to ask them questions about themselves to keep it light and fun (howâs your day going?!) or their business (have you met any great leads today?).
-  Call a friend to get a pep talk â A network of friends on tap who know your goals and are committed to them with you can make a huge difference. Tell someone before you go to an event and ask for them to join you in imagining your ideal outcome.
-  Choose a good mood and wear it – When youâre in a good mood⌠even if youâre faking it⌠other people will respond in kind. Itâs human nature to smile at people who smile at you. We all want to laugh with someone who laughs. We all get bored and enjoy someone who can make us have fun. And half the time other people are nervous or anxious too.
Letâs turn this email into action and make your business and life dreams come true:
- What in your life SHOULD you do to meet new people and grow your business? Are there conferences or events where your clients go that you havenât visited in years? What MOOD could you choose that would attract people?
- Who can you call or email that youâve been delaying contacting out of fear? What would be a fun reason to call them? What questions could you ask to focus on them?
- Who do you want to connect with this week so they feel loved? It could be a family member or friend. Schedule time to JUST BE with them even if itâs on the phone.
There is power in showing up and Iâm wishing you the courage to do that â today!
Emily Anne Page
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