I spent the morning following up on my list of prospective clients. In some cases, it was the third time I’d tried to reach them. I was starting to feel like a pest, and I was trying not to take it personally.
Then I saw that a voicemail had come in. I checked it eagerly, wondering which of my prospective clients had returned my call.
It was a vendor, calling me for the second time to see if I was interested in buying the SEO services I’d inquired about last month.
Returning her voicemail was low on my priority list, so I made a note to call her back at some point and deleted the voicemail.
But the karmic irony was too significant to ignore. When I reflected on why I hadn’t called her, I realized that it was because I was unsure about my next step. I wasn’t ready to say “yes” and engage her services. But I wasn’t ready to say “no” either. So instead, I parked it in “maybe,” putting her in the unpleasant, all-too-familiar position of sales pest.
I can safely predict what will happen: I will indulge my indecision, she will put in another call or two, I’ll feel guilty every time I see that she’s called, and eventually (and to my ultimate relief) she’ll go away.
In essence, this is the same as saying “no,” but it’s much more taxing and inefficient. It’s also disrespectful of her, bad for my self-esteem, and a poor end to the relationship.
So, as I turn my eye back to my list of prospective clients, I realize that it's time for a new approach. If they respond to my third follow-up, I’ll assume they’re still in the “yes” camp. If not, I’ll assume it’s a passive “no” and take them off my list. Then, I can repurpose that energy to find a new “yes.”
But first, I’ll start treating my service providers the way I want to be treated, starting with the SEO consultant. She deserves the courtesy of a clear “no."
Have you ever gotten stuck in the "maybe" trap? Share your comments below.
