We’ve all heard the mantra: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” How many of us apply it to customer service? It’s easy to write off a business situation as “not a good fit,” yet perseverance can pay. A woman who’d spent years as a sales rep in the medical community wanted to try selling advertising in a different field. A quilter, she knew her hobby’s suppliers and publications. She approached magazines but was told, “You’ve never sold ads before.” Treating them as new customers, she zeroed in on two publications. Her cold calls yielded no job offers, but she collected the direct phone numbers of the publishers she’d met.
Twice a week she placed friendly phone calls.”Remember me? I’m ready to sell for you,” she’d say, gently reminding them of her interest. “Eventually you’ll need an ad sales rep, and I really want that job.” It took three months of persistent reminders, but one publisher, impressed by her persistence, created an opening for her. By persevering, the saleswoman got what she wanted.
Sometimes you just have to try and keep trying. If a situation didn’t work, did you ask what would fix it? A healthy dose of perseverance can turn around a not-so-happy customer and keep the current ones smiling.
What kinds of things can you do to persevere in today’s marketplace?
