Written by: Vickie Sullivan | February 10, 2022
Beware of Bad Projects and Buyers
If you are like me, you feel great when potential buyers show an interest in you and reach out. Beware, though, not all buyers are created equally. What you tell yourself about prospects can lead to a match made in heaven or cause a time-consuming train wreck.
Let’s take a short trip to the dark side and explore two common stories that people tell themselves that cause them to choose projects destined for disaster:
• “I can do this.” I’m sure you can do anything you set your mind to. But do you really want to take on a big project if you don’t have the time or resources? Will the extra effort eat away at your profit margins? Do you want to risk having a client bad mouth you if the project heads south? That “yep, I can do that” attitude that entrepreneurs are famous for can have a big downside. So, tread carefully.
• “This is a growth opportunity.” Of course, it is a good idea to go outside your comfort zone. But you must be strategic about it. What are you signing up for? Can this growth be leveraged? What are the risks? Because if you don’t perform at your best, clients can say unflattering things about your work. Not all growth opportunities are worth it.
Listen: The Motivation Behind “False Positive” Stories
I call these stories “false positives.” The common denominator: hope. It’s extremely tempting to fall in love with a potential buyer and then hope for the best. But if you examine the stories you tell yourself about the opportunity, you can steer clear of projects that look good on paper but are actually terrible.
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