Showing up is half the battle...
It's Saturday and I just got back from a business expo called Celebrate Plantation (Plantation is the town our personal training business is in). It was sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce and took place at the Broward Mall.
To be honest, I wasn't originally looking forward to it. It was a Saturday after a grueling week and my natural inclination was to relax. But I committed to being at the expo so I showed up.
Now I have to tell you a little background info... since we are just starting our business in Plantation, to keep costs down, we got the less expensive set-up without premium placement. That meant we weren't getting optimal exposure to people in the mall.
So about an hour into it, things were humming along and we were talking to some people, but I could tell that if we had a premium table placement, we could be talking to A LOT MORE people.
It just so happened that one of the premier sponsors (who paid for a premium spot) didn't show up and their spot was empty. I wanted to take the spot but I didn't think the person managing the expo would let me.
I tried anyway...it went something like this:
"Lynn, I know you guys want this expo to look great, right? (big smile on my face) You know ... it doesn't look very good that the spot over there (pointing to the premium spot) is totally open. (pause) Since the other company didn't show up, do you mind if I take the spot."
Response: "Doug, go ahead. I can't believe they aren't here. They paid a lot of money for that spot."
Within ninety seconds or so, I occupied the spot, attracted people to the booth, and ended up generating way more prospective client leads than I had anticipated. Plus, I connected with a few key people from the city council that I had been trying to connect with for the last two months...
Two lessons:
1) Show up
2) Look for opportunities/ fill in gaps/holes that others have left.
Lesson #1 is key for your fitness program.
Lesson #2 is key for anyone looking to thrive in a down economy.
Best,
Doug Jackson
To be honest, I wasn't originally looking forward to it. It was a Saturday after a grueling week and my natural inclination was to relax. But I committed to being at the expo so I showed up.
Now I have to tell you a little background info... since we are just starting our business in Plantation, to keep costs down, we got the less expensive set-up without premium placement. That meant we weren't getting optimal exposure to people in the mall.
So about an hour into it, things were humming along and we were talking to some people, but I could tell that if we had a premium table placement, we could be talking to A LOT MORE people.
It just so happened that one of the premier sponsors (who paid for a premium spot) didn't show up and their spot was empty. I wanted to take the spot but I didn't think the person managing the expo would let me.
I tried anyway...it went something like this:
"Lynn, I know you guys want this expo to look great, right? (big smile on my face) You know ... it doesn't look very good that the spot over there (pointing to the premium spot) is totally open. (pause) Since the other company didn't show up, do you mind if I take the spot."
Response: "Doug, go ahead. I can't believe they aren't here. They paid a lot of money for that spot."
Within ninety seconds or so, I occupied the spot, attracted people to the booth, and ended up generating way more prospective client leads than I had anticipated. Plus, I connected with a few key people from the city council that I had been trying to connect with for the last two months...
Two lessons:
1) Show up
2) Look for opportunities/ fill in gaps/holes that others have left.
Lesson #1 is key for your fitness program.
Lesson #2 is key for anyone looking to thrive in a down economy.
Best,
Doug Jackson
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