A few of us met up for coffee after our networking event where I asked Norman what was the main part of his business. He has many interests, from electric bicycles to promotional items to his own range of board games. What keeps your business ticking over Norman?
‘It’s difficult to say, you know. If I’m lucky with an order for a state-of-the-art electric bike, this can float the business for a few months. More so my passion is the pin badges and magnets I produce for customers.’
‘It’s the variety, that’s what gives me enjoyment. We should enjoy what we do, don’t you think?’
I agree, I started. It’s not a passion if you aren’t getting any enjoyment. It sounds like your ‘endurance items’ provide you with the passion so lacking in many workplaces today?
‘Endurance items?’ asked Norman.
Yes, those promotional badges were once referred to as ‘endurance items’ way back in the ’90s.
Norman was on the case – not wishing to miss an opportunity he consulted his mobile and searched online ‘endurance items.’
Nothing. ‘Sports supplements’ and other things Charlie – there’s nothing about badges?
Norman and I discussed that ‘back in the day’ the ambitious sales-person would always welcome the opportunity to offer promotional hand-outs. Trade shows were a great place to collect a handful of freebies. We called these endurance sales items in the trade. Nowadays these are referred to as simply giveaways, appreciation tokens or swag.
Norman’s promotional badges would have been called similar. Another sales endurance item.
Success in business is about talking the language don’t you think? This skill comes with time and hearing enough messages to learn what to listen out for. Networking is great for that.
Today’s conversation was a reminder from Norman’s ingenious offer that we can never stand still in business. With so many challenges as we endeavour to make a living, the savvy business owner, whether sole trader/entrepreneur or thriving SME need to be thinking innovation.
What’s our difference? How do we attract more interest in the skills we are providing?
Success has always been about who we know.
While technology today has stolen a lead on many of the traditional forms of business offerings … it may have even sounded the death knell to many of those lacking the vision to move on … it’s comforting to know there may still be room for innovative people to step up and move forward.
Today I’ll thank networking, that opportunity that never goes away. Plus of course Norman for putting me back on the ‘straight and narrow!’
CharlieKenny.me 