If you're going to be a seller, be a buyer

Over the past few days I've been having an interesting and surprisingly informative experience.  I decided last week that I wanted to revamp my website and find a professional to do so.  On Friday, late in the afternoon, I put an RFP on a national website and in the interest of supporting local business people in my community, I posted an ad on craigslist.  I was very specific about what I want and don't want in terms of the design, platform and add-on services.  I was instantly flooded with automated emails, phone calls and even texts.  

I'll skip sharing about the first call I picked up - it was a nightmare.  But the second call I picked up was engaging, professional yet pleasant and friendly - I was hooked.  After a fifteen minute discussion, the individual and I agreed that on Monday at 10 AM, I would get a call from one of his designers.    However, shortly after I hung up, I was surprised to receive what appeared to be an automated template telling me  that, "we haven't spoken yet and we'd love to schedule a call."  It was a little off putting but I understand automation and don't expect perfection.  But then 10:00 came around.  No phone call.  I then got an email confirming our 10:30 appointment.  That was curious.  Again, no call came.  It was all disappointing as I had high expectations of moving forward and not making this into a mega-project.

I'm guessing my little story above sounds like a bad Yelp review.  But trust me, my goal in sharing it is  positive:  As both a fundraiser and coach, I spend a lot of time on the selling side of things.  I'll remind you, I have a very positive perspective on sales.  To me it's the transfer of my enthusiasm for serving to someone else.  Being on the customer side of this experience was a helpful reminder of what I want anyone working with me to experience and know about me.

I'll save the specifics of the above but my main point for today:  If you're going to be a seller, take the time every so often be a buyer.   It's a very telling experience.