Hey everybody, Sarah Waple here, Partner at Growth Dynamics, and I’m here with a Fast Tip Friday! This tip is something that some people might not think about—I know I certainly didn’t until I became a manufacturer’s rep selling plumbing and water-related products.
Today's tip: Be aware of what season you’re in.
Now, you might be thinking, Sarah, it’s spring! It’s winter! It’s fall!
No, no, no—we’re not talking about that kind of season.
We’re talking about the season of the year in your industry.
For example, if you're a teacher or coach, March might mean pre-season for baseball or the start of soccer season. If you’re in sales, who is taking time away from your clients and prospects right now?
For some manufacturer reps, it’s trade show season—you may have just wrapped up big events in Orlando or Vegas. Or maybe storm drain season is approaching, something I never thought about until I was in that industry.
The key is to understand what season your clients, prospects, and contacts are in. They might be pulled in directions you know nothing about. And if you don’t take the time to figure that out, you could be asking them to do something that just doesn’t make sense for them right now.
So, do the discovery. Learn their priorities. Understand the problems they’re trying to solve. Be helpful, not a distraction.
Take the time to check in with the people in your life—your prospects, customers, friends—and see what season they’re in. Because everyone’s experience is different, but when we recognize those differences, we can navigate our seasons together.
That’s my Fast Tip Friday for today!