Friday, May 16, 2008

Business Karma

So I finally heard back from a VP that had been ignoring my calls for a few weeks. He let me know that they had went in another direction that was a "quick fix" for now - he realized that it didn't solve the underlying problems inherent with his sales group. It came down to "price" he said, after all the non solution compared to my solution (his words) was half the price! When did you make the decision? - about 3 weeks ago - and only now was he letting me know!!!
So I asked him if he was listening to himself and if he understood the implications of what he was saying?
Then I summed it up for him this way - If your sales people suffer from price shoppers and people selecting product over solution and if your people are frustrated by prospects ignoring their calls and they find out that they have lost weeks or months after that decision has been made then you deserve it and it is a result of a negative corporate buy cycle that your organization is teaching them - not formally but by its actions!
Karma or you reap what you sow - is as true in business as it is in life. Throughout history some have thought they could remain exempt from the repercussions of their actions but Newtons law of an equal and opposite reaction proved their hopes false. The French Aristocracy of the 18th century - Louis and Marie Antoinette - laughed at the poverty and plight of their own people in a heartless way and sure enough they were treated in like fashion when the revolution turned the tables on them very quickly.
To misquote John Lennon - business karma's gonna get you!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

So, the "Golden Rule" applies again.

Why don’t they get it? If they avoid, they will be avoided. If they lie, they will be lied to. If they buy stupid solutions, so will their prospects. If their word means nothing, they can't trust their prospects.