Picking up the Phone

It may be your day job or it may be your dream job a lot of us have to use the phone as part of our job.

You may be cold calling or they may be referrals.  It doesn't matter!  You could be calling to set appointments, calling to make sales, asking for donations.  It doesn't matter!

I know that I'm not the only one that wishes I could run my business without ever picking up the phone.  Sadly, this isn't much of an option.


I guess I could decide that I wasn't going to pick the phone up anymore.  I'll just kick back in my chair and let people walk into my office.  I've got the pretty sign outside with the business name on it.  People should just start rolling in.  I mean who am I to think that I have a right to call someone on the phone and ask for their business they will see my sign up.  Or they'll just stumble across my website and the sale will be made instantly.

Just for a few months I'll be living on the street in a cardboard box because I wasn't bringing in any money.  It will only take a few months though and then I'll have clients pouring in.

I know that may sound a little dramatic.  I hate calling though.  I could find busy work to do all day long rather than making those phone calls that must be made.  So what's the solution?  Get a new job?  Pursue another dream?  I guess that would be an option not one that I'd like to look at though.

Just make the calls!  You need to force yourself everyday to make the calls.  I'll always find calling my least favorite part of what I do.  I have found some tricks that work and the greatest thing is IT'S EASY TO IMPLEMENT THEM!!!

One of the largest fears on the phone is rejection.  This happens a lot when making calls.  So, what can help you get over the fear of rejection?  NEVER personalize rejection.  They may be harsh with you.  They may seem like they're trying to reach through the phone and strangle you (which luckily, they can't).  You may have called the hulk in real life.  It'll be over in a few minutes and you'll be off the phone and onto you next call.  Your next call could be one of those rare ones where you can't even finish your pitch and they're already sold.  Well Mr. Hulk I survived and now I'm also feeding my family tonight.

Schedule your phoning time.  It doesn't matter what you decide your phoning time is going to be all that matters is that you stay true to yourself and stick to it.  Do it without distractions!  Turn off your computer if you need to.  Hey trust me I know how your fantasy football team is more important than phoning.  Oh and then you need to check the weather for the 4th time that day.  Better straighten your desk before you start phoning you can't make phone calls with a dirty desk and so on.  You're phoning time is over and you didn't even start.  I understand more important things came up, right?

The last tip is set a goal.  I have an hour blocked off everyday to do nothing except for phone.  I follow this because I set a goal for myself that I have to reach everyday.  Even with that hour blocked off I do not always hit my goal from that one hour of phoning.  I can't leave the office if I haven't hit my goal.  So say I had 2 appointments cancel that were scheduled for an hour each.  I will take one of those hours and dedicate that as another hour of phoning.  If during the day I don't hit my goal I stay late and hit the phone until I hit it or until it's too late to make anymore calls.

Simple right?

You will still wish you didn't have to pick the phone up.  You'll still want to be checking your fantasy football team.  However, if you use these 3 things you'll feel your accomplishment.  You will stop saying I'll make up for it tomorrow because you were able to do it today!