Do You Leave a Lasting Impression?

The phone rang not long ago, as it is apt to do, and the woman at the other end of the phone said:

“I know you won’t remember me, but I attended a seminar you gave about three years ago on Generational Marketing.  Are you still on the speaking circuit?  I really liked your speaking style – it was one of the only sessions that I stayed awake.  I’m in need of a speaker next month and wondered if you were interested.”

Three years ago.  Talk about planting a seed! 

We never know how something we say or do will impact others.  What kind of an impression will it make?  How long will they remember? 

In this “I want it now,” need-for-speed, immediate gratification world we live in, we sometimes forget that good things come to those who wait.  That sometimes the best things are worth waiting for and some people just don’t need us and what we offer today - but if we make a good enough impression – they may need us three years from now.

So how can you leave a lasting impression?

One way is to make sure you are all about providing value.  If you are constantly thinking about closing the deal you are going to miss the opportunity to make a positive impression. If the person doesn’t look like they will sign on the dotted line that very minute, we may lose interest and move on to someone with their wallet open, money dangling.  People can sense your motivation.  If they feel you are only in it for what they can provide to YOU, you’ll be forgotten in the time it takes to make eye contact with the person standing next to you.

However, if you show genuine interest in those you are meeting and talking with – if you ask questions – if you share your knowledge – if you give without expecting something in return – you’ll stand out.  You’ll make an impression.

Take it a step further.  GIVE SOMETHING AWAY.  Yesterday I was talking with a prospect about writing her website content.  I submitted a proposal and she called to say it wasn’t in the budget right now.  We talked about the possibility of just writing a portion of the site now and the rest later.  In the meantime I said to her, “Something you can do for yourself is write a listing of key words and phrases that your web developer can put in the Source Code.”

As a webwriter I charge for the content I write – what is visible to the reader and what is hidden in the Source code for the search engine spiders.  However, in this case I spent some time on the phone talking with her about things she could do on her own to help the visibility of her site.  I’m not going to send her an invoice.  It was just the right thing to do to help someone out.

What do you do to help someone out – just because it is the right thing to do?

Be yourself.  Another way to make a lasting impression is to just be yourself.  If that means, casual, funny and easy to be around – all the better.  We been raised to believe we need to be in our three-piece suit, using our best grammar, high-fulooting vocabulary in order to be taken seriously in business.  Trouble is – that stiff, professional exterior is difficult to relate to, can be intimidating and if you leave an impression – it probably isn’t positive.  Be yourself.  In order to make an impression, you need to strive to make a connection – start a relationship.  It is easier to build a relationship with someone who is enjoyable to be around.

Be patient.  You just don’t know when the person you are meeting today will need to reconnect. 

You just don’t know if the person you are talking to will refer you to a friend.  However, if you focus on being yourself, offering something of value, showing genuine interest in others and giving away information when it is needed – you’ll leave a lasting impression that may just knock on your door next month, next year or in three years from now!