I listened too much.
I know everything you read these days says “listen listen listen”, but I just did it too much – I wouldn’t talk at all. When you’re trying to start a business, that is sell your non-existent revenue stream , your non-existent brand and your non-existent product you need to be able to talk and your need to be able to talk convincingly.
By going to events and ensuring I was always in conversation with someone, cold calling people and firming up my pitch I’ve become a better talker.
I’m not advocating just blabbing to anyone, on the contrary I think it’s extremely important that you always take the time to listen to someone else. Not only are they probably a very interesting person but you gain an understanding of where they are coming from.
There is no sense talking accounting to a brick layer. Just like there is no sense pitching the benefits of targeted online marketing to someone who doesn’t yet understand the benefits of going online.
