Keeping the Flow When Everyone Else Says It's Slow
Summer is time for vacation. Lots of people are out of town. (In Northern Virginia, that's a good thing. Traffic is much better now!) But be realistic. Summer is at least two months long. Does everyone leave town for the entire two months? Of course not!
Sure, lots of people leave for a couple of weeks. But that's not the whole summer. You know why I think everyone says the summer is slow? Because so many say it, lots of people start to think it and everyone slows down their activity, thereby creating the "reality" of summer being slow.
But you don't have to buy into that belief. There's lots you can do during the summer.
Most networking groups and organizations still meet. Check your local Chamber of Commerce. They may be taking advantage of the warm weather to do some fun outdoor activities.
Summer can be a great time to volunteer. With all those kids out of school, there are lots of activities that need adult sponsorship and volunteer time. Now is an excellent time to find those summer camps and spend time with kids. Come fall, the parents will remember and use your services instead of a competitor who isn't as involved.
Summer is the time for getting together. Fourth of July parties anyone? Summer grill parties? What a fabulous time to reconnect with people. Haven't been invited to one yet? Great! Hold your own. Plan an intimate get together with your five best clients. Ask them to bring a guest and get in some networking over hot dogs and potato salad.
If your flow of clients really is a bit slow right now, then you have the time to connect with others. Look at your client list. Who were your best referral sources last year? When did you last meet with them? Use this slower time as an opportunity to take your best clients and referral sources out to lunch. Reward them for their business and they will reward you.
Don't forget golf! Some of the best networking takes place on the golf course. And this is prime season for that. Call up three friends and treat them to 9 or 18 holes. Don't know how to play? That's okay. If you are complaining that it's slow, then you have time for lessons. Chat with your fellow learners. The guy working on his swing beside you might be your next client.
Finally, vacation. As small business owners, we do tend to live, breathe, eat and sleep our jobs. So take a week or two off. Go someplace nice. Leave the Blackberry behind and really disconnect. You'll come back fresh and ready to go.
So summer doesn't have to be slow. The next time you or someone you know says, "But it's so slow in the summer," don't listen. Look for something to do to build the next great relationship. And next year, you'll be so busy you may wish for a bit of a summer slow down.
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