Get out, be seen to grow business

Without thinking, I said, “Get out and be seen! You won’t meet anyone sitting here in the dorm. Join everything you can!”

Since then, I have often thought about how much being in business is like dating. You have to meet the prospects. You have to size each other up. You have to come to a mutually satisfactory agreement.

A few years ago, I gave a presentation to a national franchise organization. I encouraged the franchisees to join their chamber of commerce groups, service organizations such as Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions, learning groups such as Toastmasters, churches, professional organizations, participate in charity events and more. The response was discouraging: We don’t have time!

My response was simplistic, but emphatic: Make time!

Believe me, I know all the excuses:

“It’s really not an hour for lunch with the service group, as it will take me 20 minutes to get there and 20 minutes to get back.”

“I am so tired all the time that I can’t go to anything in the evening.”

“Charity events – I don’t have the time, the money or the energy!”

“I can’t get up on Sunday to go to church. I have to watch the Sunday morning news shows, sleep late or mow!”

The question is not whether you have the time, but will you make the time?

You’ve heard that old saw many times: If you want to get something done, ask a busy person. I think it is because busy people make the time. They come to the realization that certain things are important whether they cut into one’s time or not.

Yes, they get tired. Yes, they often have times when they wish they hadn’t signed up to walk for a charity, but they do it anyway. They have discovered an important fact about life: Being active keeps us active.

One of the things I love about Springfield is the sense of community. On the morning of Sept. 11, I counted four flags on my one-mile walk in the neighborhood. The day after Sept. 11, there were 27 flags.

More recently, this year on Sept. 10, we went to a barbecue lunch for hurricane victims and then to a fish fry in the evening, where we got fish and the opportunity of putting goods in a truck heading south. At church there was an extra collection and prayers for the survivors. I know that these events happened all over our country, but it is so great to see people I know where I go.

Name recognition

So, what does all of this have to do with your business?

The “small town” atmosphere of Springfield will work for you. It is a little like the TV show “Cheers” and the song that describes it as a place “where everybody knows your name.” If you get out and are seen, everybody will know your name.

It happens to me all the time. I am in three organizations: Toastmasters, River of Life Lutheran Church and Executive Women’s Club. I didn’t join any of them to network per se, but all of them have brought me business.

Your name is out there in unusual ways as well. When my mother was very ill a few years ago, I didn’t write for SBJ for months and months. Everywhere people said, “I like your articles in SBJ.” They remembered from before.

It is amazing how the seeds we plant come to fruition. Recently, I got a call from a gentleman who had heard me speak at the Missouri Bankers Association three years ago and read my columns in SBJ. He is now in the medical field and one of his employees heard me speak at a pro bono event. The name recognition kicked in and he hired me for two speeches! Some speakers will never speak for free. I make an effort to do it once a month for a group that cannot pay my full fee.

Being seen for business

As a businessperson, you are part of the community. You should have a say in its activities and be part of them. We all need to give back. You need outside activities, fellowship and spiritual renewal as a break from the so-called “daily grind.” You need refreshment of the soul.

Participation is the best way to connect with others, whether it is for friendship or business. You will make a deeper connection with someone when you work on the annual fish fry with him or her than just sitting next to someone in a meeting or church.

Joining organizations is a way to network without having to network. You are there because you want to participate. Networking evolves over time.

By getting out, you will create “top of mind” awareness for yourself and your business. People would rather work with friends and people they know. The trust is there.

Don’t give up too soon. It takes about six months to feel comfortable in any group, sometimes longer.

In Springfield, the community opportunities are there. Take advantage of them! Get out and be seen!

Sinara Stull O’Donnell is a professional speaker and writer through Springfield-based SinaraSpeaks. She is the author of “Be The Star Of Your Life: Are You Ready For Your Close-Up?”

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