I am back from Spain and back to work! I had a lovely trip and am sure to be sprinkling things I discovered along the way through lots of posts.
The first example is from the painting above: a mannerist work that we found in the art museum in Seville, in southern Spain.
When first looking at it, I simply saw the strange hand positions that were popular during this art movement. People had gotten tired of plain old renaissance works, so strange hand positions had become the rage all over Europe. Who knew this was the antidote?
But what I realized when looking closer... if you stop thinking about this as a painting and remove that context, it really does look like these guys are facing off and throwing down gang signs:
Right?
Craziness. Read on to learn why you need to know what context you are in when you talk about your business, or your likely to start a rumble just like these guys in robes would do today...
We all need to talk about business, especially when we, ourselves, are that business, right?
We need to seek clients, and we need to connect with people who we can partner with, whose services we need, and to get the word out in general.
Lately it has come to my attention that there is a new protocol sweeping the business world and we all need to be informed if we are to succeed in these new times. You don't talk about your business in the same way when you're talking to family vs friends vs prospects, right?
Settings and contexts are the same. What we need to shift is the emphasis on all running little monologues about what we're working on rather than trying to reach out and make genuine contact with others.
For example- wouldn't it be more useful for you to know exactly what's going on with your portential clients to be able to meet their needs quickly and efficiently? Of course it would!
So... the best way to do that is to approach all business meetings, networking, social media, and any other connections you make as a context to be of service and to learn more about who you want to work with you.
Let me give you an example... if I am out networking for Remabulous, would you rather work with me if I give you a long schpiel about all the fancy stuff I am doing, or if I asked you what the biggest challenge was you were facing in your business and to ask you what kind of support would help you move through that to the next level? (Please do answer this question in the comments- it isn't rhetorical)
If we change the context of networking and promoting to "research" or "service opportunities" then that is the context that is going to make us stand out from the pack.
What questions would you love to know the answers to from your ideal market? Write them down on an index card right now. Keep it with you and review it before you next go to a meeting, networking event, or encounter clients. Try to ask everyone at least one of those questions during the interaction you have.
Then you learn more, can tailor your business more effectively, and you've most likele made a more solid connection with the prospect. Try it and report back here.
Then you're much less likely to accidentally think you are starting a enw art movement in Europe and come off like these guys:
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