Comments on: Maybe Your Business Sucks Because You Are A Flake

By: My Halo Might End Up Choking Me — shorespeak | Rob Shore | Management Coach • Sales Consultant • Professional Speaker

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:05:53 +0000

[...] subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.Back in November 2009 I wrote a post entitled Maybe Your Business Sucks Because You’re a Flake. In it I lamented the sad state of affairs of people simply not doing what they say they will do [...]

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:07:35 +0000

That was a long time ago – geez we’re getting old! Thanks for the comment and kind words Ryan.

By: Ryan Creasey

Ryan Creasey — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:58:01 +0000

Hum, sounds like a rant I laid on you not too long ago (for the record everyone, Rob wasn’t the object of my rant). Rob, thanks so much for teaching me this valuable lesson a long time ago in one of my many mentoring sessions I had with you, I believe it has served me well.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:52:48 +0000

@Andrea
In a similar context, I do a number of things via barter. My wife, who is a fitness instructor, refuses to barter. She says that she has never seen someone give the same level of service/treatment to a barter ‘client’ versus a paying client. In fact I have barter relationships where I know that the treatment I get is 90% of what they give their full freight customers.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:39:29 +0000

It amazes me too. But that is where people make mistakes; if you were a potentially paying client I bet they never would’ve done that – but there is a thing I get where if you’re an associate, colleague or especially a “vendor” – apparently it doesn’t matter how you treat those people… yet what they will find eventually, in today’s marketplace, it really does!

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:20:58 +0000

@Anthony
Good thoughts.
My admittedly simplistic notion is this: if you book an appointment, keep it.
Next best option is to cancel it.
Least attractive/unacceptable option is to no show.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:50:03 +0000

Rob, positive spin is that people are interested.
What I see is inherent %’s.
For X attempts-booked appointments, Y %’s of appointments completed.
How do I increase Y %’s of completed appointments, keeping in mind the behavior of the targeted customers/participants? What is my new “inherent” % of completed appointments?
Depending on the industry/audience/link to “how do I benefit”, you will have a different number of appointments completed.
Although rude, the “appointment” has made a choice not to attend. Why?
Is it any different than someone cancelling formally 24 hours prior to meet time?
If we assume these “flakes” are fighting as much as you are for business/income and you have contact information, how do you get a new appointment to qualify them and prove the viability of your “NEW” business model?

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:54:53 +0000

@Michael
You are right there is a general lack of civility. Perhaps the fact that more and more time is spend in arms length interactions (IM, email, chat, Twitter) that the basic courtesy that was necessary in face to face interactions has been lost.

By: Michael Benidt

Michael Benidt — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:27:18 +0000

This is just the kind of behavior that is all part of a lack of civility in our culture. I think it’s possible that online behaviors are actually infecting our public and in-person behaviors. After all, if folks can have an online persona that simply says “buy me, sign up with me, me, me, me, me” – it’s not that surprising that they’re sell-obsessed in their personal relations and in public.

But, you’re right – you’re ranting. Thing is – we need more argument, discussion and conversation – even ranting. We’ve already got enough “sell, sell, sell – me, me, me.” So, thanks, Rob.
.-= Michael Benidt´s last blog ..The Age of the Unspeakable =-.

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:41:43 +0000

@Beau
Oh I was referring to all business – my point of reference for this post was an online one. My point of reference for the general concept was 30+ years of business experience. And yes, you are so right, the construction trade has the highest percentage of flakes, per capita, than any I can think of! Thanks for the comment.