Meet, Greet, & Play Nice

Your mom was right. There is no substitute for manners and civilized behavior.

I shared a cup of coffee with someone the day before yesterday, and I mentioned that there is really no replacement for face-to-face meetings with someone, especially if you're looking to establish a business relationship with that person. While we live in one of the most technically advanced nations in the world and in an era that would have amazed people twenty years ago (let alone a century or two prior), becoming this tech-savvy has drawbacks along with its advantages. We don't talk to people face-to-face. We Tweet, we Facebook, we e-mail. We text, and text, and text until we have to visit the doctor for our aching thumbs. One look at the news shows us that we have fast forgotten how to be civil to each other, regardless of what our opinions are.

Let's take a step back for a minute. A conversation, actually connecting with someone,  means that I am sharing information with you. I'm giving a person some idea of who I am. I'm asking that person to consider my needs. I want something. I'm asking that person to take time out of their day to either help me with something or to give me something in return, especially in business. I have to communicate and be clear in those communications, and no matter how uncomfortable it may be, actually talk to that person. (And who knows? You may just surprise yourself and actually find that talking face-to-face isn't uncomfortable at all.)

So, in light of these things, what are the rules of meeting new business associates (which is, in actuality, meeting new people), and how does this all tie together? Here's how I see it:

1.) Do your research. They tell you the same thing for a job interview, and it's the same thing for meeting a potential new vendor or client you want to use your services. Go to their website. When you have your lunch meeting or coffee with that person, have a conversation with them. Find out who they are and what they're looking for. Ask them about their business mission. Ask them what they like or dislike. And the magic about conversation is that it's a two way street. Try to give the other person as much information about yourself and your business so that they can make a decision whether or not there's a fit. Do it within the bounds of reason and tact, however; a business meeting isn't the time to bring up the dubious distinction that you were the dorm's beer funneling champion for two consecutive semesters. Enough people already know that and will be more than happy to bring it up at the next reunion, so keep your mouth shut about it.

2.) Dress for the occasion.Take a shower. Put on deoderant. As someone who is in a creative field, I have a small bit of leeway, but just because I'm a photographer I wouldn't and shouldn't show up to meet someone in muddy boots and waders and expect the explanation, "I just got in from a shoot" to suffice. Your mom is right; it's rude and places still do have dress codes. And while what I might wear to meet a potential corporate client is completely different from what I would wear to meet a client interested in a portrait, in either case I need to look professional, competent, and neat.

3.) Be there when the person you're meeting arrives. This may mean that you have to get to your meeting place early - maybe an hour early, maybe a day early, maybe both - but make sure you are there and ready to go when your guest arrives, because you have no real idea how much time that person has to spend. And if the unthinkable happens and you're going to be late, call and let that person know so they can either wait or reschedule. When you get to your meeting, apologize for your tardiness once and move on with the meeting.

4.) Speaking of guests:  if you've asked this person to lunch or coffee, pick up the tab. You wouldn't invite someone to your home for dinner, and ask them to pay for it. They are your guest. Find out where they would like to go; some people have food allergies and/or dietary restrictions you need to consider (and visits to the ER are not fun). And don't forget to get a receipt and make your accountant happy.

5.) Send a thank you note for your meeting as soon as possible. Here's one instance where technology works to your advantage. You can send an e-mail a soon as you get back to the car, but doan txt how gr8 it wuz to see U. PLEASE! Proper spelling! And proof your letter before you hit "send".

See? It just takes a little effort to be civilized. It makes people feel valued and important, which at the end of the day is something we all want, and in the end, you just might make a friend. How can that be bad?

Blog Love/Hate/Love....

There are times with my blog that I think it's the best thing since a PB&J sandwich on sliced bread. Then there are other times when I feel like Cinderella did just after her evil stepsisters got ahold of the dress she made to go to the ball, especially when I look at other people's blogs. (We all know she got a better dress via fairytale intervention, but I don't know if that's going to happen here.)

What makes a good blog? I'm still trying to answer that question for myself, especially since (I am told) I need it to direct traffic to my website and thus increase my business. Business has changed so much in the wake of new technologies and with the change of not only a new decade and century, but a new millennium. Back in the day, it was important to have a business card that grabbed your client's attention; now, not only do you have to have a business card, you need a website, a blog, a Twitter page and a Facebook page. As I've whined about on here before (yes, I went there!), it seems like I spend so much time on the computer that I have to remember when the hell I put the camera.

So hmmm.... How do I become the Bodisadvat of blogging? (Now we're up to two questions I have to answer!) I think, in an effort to answer those things for myself, I have to get to a place where blogging ceomes second nature to me. Like it is with any type of writing, you have to force yourself to do it every day. I have to look for things that not only interest me, but things that just may be an interest to others and the people who stumble upon my blog. It's like that with my photography. I need to do it as much as I can, and always ask the question, "what makes this photo interesting?"  Plus there are the automated, technical functions that I can do to make my blogging tasks a little easier like writing as much as I can in advance, schedule my blogs and the time for writing them so that they appear when I'm out on a shoot or with a potential client.

So I'm working on it, and like everything in my life over the last thirty months, it's a constant change and a constant effort. My blog, like my life, is a work in progress. Hopefully both will be something that I can point to with some sense of pride and accomplishment someday.

Busywork

Yet another retro post, mainly because I'm blogging my little fingers to the bone! :-)

*************************************************************************

UGH!

Today is chore day. Not only do I have house cleaning to do, I have things I need to do connected to the business. I try to keep up with things and do a bit here and there in both, but I find you really need to have a day where everything gets done. If you don't you're looking at one hot mess later on.

When I began the business, I spent a lot of time trying to lay down a good foundation. Of course, I had to decide whether  to be a Sole Proprietor, LLC (Limited Liability Corporation), or a corporation in general. I had to set up my website, Twitter, and Facebook. I had to begin a blog. And, oh yeah - there's the shopping for office supplies like accordion files for receipts, a calculator that figures out tax, file folders, etc. (Yes, I was the kid who loved shopping for school supplies. A nice, pink eraser and a box of a dozen number 2 Ticonderoga pencils just waiting to be sharpened made my nerdy little heart skip a beat at the start of each and every school year.)

I remember grumbling that the reason why I started my photography business was ta take photographs, and not to spend my day chained to the desk. UGH!  Thankfully that looks like that's changing.

Except for today, when I need to itemize receipts and clean the house to keep the furbabies happy.