One of the most valuable lessons that I've learned since becoming a business owner is that no matter how good the intentions, how good the idea, how great the product - if you don't have sales, your business will not survive.
This is one of those areas where you may want to consider that truly successful people, surround themselves with people who do things better than them. What I mean by that is very simple. I was under the impression that since I'm a good listener when it comes to sitting down with a potential client and taking the time to truly understand their needs, that the sales would just be a natural course of events.
However, I was sadly mistaken. Not because of my abilities, but because I cannot stand cold calling and/or taking that initial step to get someone to speak with me. I've always been good at empathy and sympathy and quite frankly, I can't stand when a telemarketer calls me or when a pushy salesperson tries to sell me something. I never wanted to be that guy.
So my thought process led me to believe that if I took the alternate route and just kind of waited for those opportune moments to discuss a potential client's needs, that the business would just happen.
Unfortunately, that's not the case in most instances and the reality is more like "out of sight, out of mind." So, you've got to find the happy medium of being in front of potential clients but not putting them off because you're too pushy.
The solution in my opinion? Find someone who is better at sales than you and let them do their thing. The good news about the economy being in shambles is that there are all kinds of qualified individuals out there just waiting to make their next mark on the business world.