Spring Cleaning

April 21, 2014

Bill Helgeson - Risdall Marketing Group

It's April and the time for spring cleaning: Clean the windows and the garage; prepare the lawn for the trampling of little feet; decide if you are finally going to break down and buy that kink-free water hose. Those decisions can improve your home life. You can also effectively spring clean for your work life.

Look around your desk; is it as cluttered as your garage? Put away those files from the project that ended three months ago. Look through your old files from a project you did three years ago or the project you never won. Just as you emerge from you house to say "hi" to the neighbors you haven't seen since December, re-engage past contacts with a quick phone call or a note.

We all work extremely hard on a day to day basis trying to get 12 things done in a 10-thing day. But we need to make sure we set aside that "cleaning" time on a day-to-day basis as well. Be it an hour or even a half hour every day, set aside the time to reconnect to that person you should have contacted six months ago. Hopefully you are using some type of CRM system that shows you your notes from the last conversation with that person. Ask them how that trip went or if they got that big project you discussed during your last call. People do business with people they like and when you show a sincere interest in what is happening in their work and personal life, you become a trusted partner and not just a vendor.

You've cleaned your desk; you've dusted off some old contacts to re-engage; and now let's consider how you look to the world. Has it been a few years since you've updated your wardrobe? Consider going out and buying a new suit (men or women) or at least a few new shirts, ties, blouses or skirts. You know how you feel inside when you wear something new. You walk a little taller and your shoulders are back just a little. Others notice that too. You don't have to spend a fortune to look sharp, just buy strategically to enhance the clothes you have in your closet.

Finally, dust off those same old proposals and sell sheets you have been using for the last few years. You don't need to start from scratch, just freshen them up a bit. Look at the content of your proposals and sell sheets and see if there is updated information you can include in each. Do you have new case studies you can showcase, is your bio the most up to date it can be? With just a little bit of work, you can show the world you are on top of your game.

Good luck and good cleaning!