If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
Two colleagues complained they were so involved in their work, they didn’t have time to prospect. One guy even said he was thinking of cold calling (shudder) and doing more marketing. Why didn’t he think to ask for referrals?
That’s a rhetorical question. I already know the answer. People are so focused on their projects, and they don’t make time to prospect. Yes, you must make time. If you’re heads-down on your projects and don’t prospect, you’ll have no pipeline when you surface. That’s scary.
There’s no excuse today. You have email, social media, and smartphones at your fingertips. How long does it take to make one more call, send one more email, or contact someone you know on social media to schedule a phone call or a get-together? Two minutes tops. No more excuses. Reach out to one person a day to start a conversation.