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The Ranting Editorial of a Certified Female Owned Enterprise
I’d like to start today’s article with a couple of questions:
1. Do you know there is no such thing a FREE lunch?
2. When did you start believing your own hype?
 When
you to go a restaurant, you are there because you want the kind
of cuisine they serve. Following that, you usually look at the
menu and maybe check the prices. Assuming the meal and service
was to your liking, you pay and leave a reasonable tip, right?
So why is it different with consulting or business services? I am
always amazed that there are people who want to either A) Not
Pay; B) Barter for something one party doesn't want, or C) Try
and change the rules of engagement mid-way through a written or
verbal agreement -- after they know the terms stated by the
service provider.
If you are someone that thinks you should not have to pay, please
explain "Why?" Why should someone provide you
their concepts, services, time, contacts and intellectual
property? Are you with P&G? Mercedes Benz? Nordstrom? Are you
with the American Red Cross or the Muscular Dystrophy
Association? So if you're not a Fortune 500 or a major
non-profit organization, you ARE likely a small or medium sized
business. And if you ARE a small business trying to survive,
you might want to consider the golden rule because it is
GHASTLY that so many individuals are trying to get over on their
fellow business people. Basic human decency is a good trait to
carry over into business. People do remember their experiences
so it’s best to provide impeccable service and VALUE to them.
They will be customers for a long time.
I have a friend who I have known since my ABC TV days in NYC.
She has lived in Vegas for 12 years and runs a highly
successful business. Yet, even after 12 years of growth, a
stellar reputation and known to be a "giver" in the
community, she STILL struggles with customers NOT wanting to pay
her listed prices. Why? What's the difference between buying a
widget and buying a service? You don't go to Macy's and expect
to pay Salvation Army prices and unless you're quite lucky, you
rarely find a brand new, still in style Macy's dress at the
thrift shop.
While there is always room for negotiation, one should not expect
something for nothing. We are capitalists living in the greatest
country in the world. We are FOR PROFIT companies and we
all need to eat, pay our car notes and mortgages. Seems
reasonable, right?
So let me ask you another question: Are you believing your own
hype: Because as difficult as this is to say, in corporate
America, no one really cares what you did and who you did it
with 20 years ago, 15 years ago or maybe even one year ago.
Depending on your age, you may have had wonderful experiences
that provide wonderful memories. When I worked for ABC TV, I
worked with EVERYBODY because it was the nature of the job. It
was a privilege.
But that was then and this is NOW. In the last 5 years I have
worked for the Pepsi Bottling Group, PepsiCo and helped launch
one of the first all Vegas TV stations. When working with
customers – unless they want to know -- I don’t talk a whole lot
about my executive experience at Disney and ABC but instead
focus on current and relevant information because I work for
them and they need to know what I can do for them in today’s
business world and in the tough economic world of 2008.
If I came to you and asked for your products or services, I would
have to pay. That said, I might ask you to provide some
reference accounts and ask about how you were able to contribute
to your customers’ recent successes. You should offer this
information willingly because if you are exemplary at what you
do, you can provide solid references. You are to be
congratulated. To the others who are living on a professional
reputation of what seems like 100 years ago, I recommend you
look up the word "hubris".
Me? I'm just one woman trying to make a living, providing
results to customers while being ethical and keeping my
integrity intact.
Mary Ann McQueen Butcher
Goddess of Marketing
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