Page 121 - 100 Great Business Ideas: From Leading Companies Around the World (100 Great Ideas)
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151 Quick Ideas to Get New Customers
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Networking
Jack had tried several times to get past the gatekeepers
and reach the president of a successful restaurant chain to talk
to him about his unique flat-rate maintenance program for their
commercial heating and air conditioning systems. He could of-
fer the company a better service at a better price, but he couldn’t
get through to the president.
One Sunday morning at
Assignment church, he overheard an-
other parishioner mention
Do your homework to that he knew the president
find out who your colleagues, of the restaurant chain.
coworkers, friends, and fam- Jack approached the man
ily know. Almost everyone and asked him if he would
knows someone who could introduce Jack and his com-
be a prospect. pany to the president so he
could tell him about Jack’s
great service. The very
next morning, Jack got a call from his friend telling him that the
president was expecting him to call, and would welcome set-
ting up a meeting to discuss how Jack could help them get
better service at less cost.
Epilogue
Who do you know who could open a door for you?
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