Don Draper Learns A Prospect To Client Time Frame Lesson

Mad Men is tops on my list for TV and I enjoy the marketing and sales ideas that are offered.

In the October 10^th “Blowing Smoke” Episode 12, Don gets a much needed introduction to Heinz.

Don Draper played by Jon Hamm offers this great enquiring question to the executive member of Heinz; “How would you describe your current frustration?”

The Heinz executive shared his frustrations and that they were looking for some ideas in about 6 months.

Don doesn’t often make mistakes but he made a big one here by not asking; “Why in 6 months?”

To Don’s credit, Don did ask “Why in 6 months” but only after trying to pitch an idea to get the business right there and then and on top of that, he offered to discount his commission.

Heinz like a lot of big accounts wanted to go on a few dates with Don over a 6 month period to get to know him versus Don jumping into bed with them right away which Don sometimes does on the show.

The correct response could have been; “I understand that you likely have a lot of projects in play right now and that changing firms right now would be disruptive … let’s stay in touch and I’ll send a copy of my newsletter that is filled with my latest thought leading ideas and lets reconnect a few months down the road.”

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Dear All,

I’ve been shortlisted for Advisor.ca’s ‘Name That Visionary Contest’: Who are the Top 10 leaders in the industry today?

Round One is over and the candidates have been narrowed down to 20 entries.

The next step is to vote for the top ten entries and you can do this by clicking here; 

http://www.advisor.ca/partnersuccesscenter/aca10/bioform.html

There are two ways I could have played this:

1. Pretending to be a shy and demure Canadian, because that is what Canadians do, in the hope that people will vote anyway – “I don’t take part in these celebrity competitions because it’s beneath me”
2. Bold, outrageous and provocative – “asking for the business” – vote for me because I love the exposure!

Another reason that I am doing this is to demonstrate the power of E-Nurture Marketing as you are a reader of my E-Newsletter and we were initially introduced through speaking or via the internet.

Honestly, it would cost tens of thousands to receive the exposure that this contest can create.

So I’m asking for your help.

The next step is to vote for the top ten entries and you can do this by clicking here and PLEASE VOTE FOR ME;

http://www.advisor.ca/partnersuccesscenter/aca10/bioform.html

 Again, why am I asking?

• The exposure is absolutely great for my professional career development
• The publicity is a vindication for all the hard work done with clients and the philosophy and ideas that we share in these and other pages
• The encouragement to me to keep fighting the fight for quality career and independent financial advisors
• My coaches and mentors all get to take a break as my unmet need of recognition is satisfied
• You will have to spend a few minutes thinking about your personal Top 10 leaders in the industry today 

To vote CLICK HERE; 

http://www.advisor.ca/partnersuccesscenter/aca10/bioform.html