One of the more depressing, soul-destroying parts of my job is having to cold call businesses.
A cold call is like any other phone call made to you in that (unless it has been pre-agreed that the caller will dial your number at a designated time) it is largely unexpected, usually unwanted and always made at a time that suits the caller rather than the call-ee.
For this, I apologise to the many, many, many businesses whose working day I have interrupted by asking for the person who deals with the company insurance (sadly I'm not always armed with a contact name). For the most part, people are polite and seem to respect the fact that I'm just doing my job and trying to earn a living like everyone else and lets face it, I'm not cutting into anyone's private time. However, some people are abrupt and others simply hang up.
The worst ones are the "Little Hitlers" who take great delight in exerting the only power they have by denying you access to the person of your choice.
The best question I get asked repeatedly by Little Hitlers on phoning a prospect is: "Are they expecting your call?"
To which my response is: "Well, are they clairvoyant?"
At this point I usually hear: "Sorry, we don't have a Claire here" and/or a click and a tone notifying me that I have been hung up on.
I may need to re-think my cold calling strategy........
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Too soon?
Oh dear, it's started already....
A recent evening visit to undertake the weekly big shop to Morrisons is - somewhat bizarrely - fast becoming one of my favourite things. It is usually quiet, so I can take my time and squeeze as many melons as I damn well please as well as enjoying the simple pleasure of weaving my trolley across the entirety of an aisle without decapitating a straying toddler.
However, all that was ruined this evening by the unwelcome and premature appearance of chocolate advent calendars. It's September-the-freakin-8th!! Good Lord!! We've got Halloween and Bonfire night in between now and C.........I can't even bring myself to say it.
Down another aisle....C...festive chocolates and treats!! It has been 20 degrees outside this week and as I type my friendly neighbourhood crown green bowlers are out playing in t-shirts under floodlights. They're not thinking about the December-fest!
So, what's to be done? Yes, you who clearly has far too much time on their hands judging by the fact that you're reading this drivel? I say ban all mentions/adverts/propaganda of the 25th December until the 1st December and that way we can make at least one month of the year really special rather than trying to stretch it out over a third of the year.
Who's with me?!
A recent evening visit to undertake the weekly big shop to Morrisons is - somewhat bizarrely - fast becoming one of my favourite things. It is usually quiet, so I can take my time and squeeze as many melons as I damn well please as well as enjoying the simple pleasure of weaving my trolley across the entirety of an aisle without decapitating a straying toddler.
However, all that was ruined this evening by the unwelcome and premature appearance of chocolate advent calendars. It's September-the-freakin-8th!! Good Lord!! We've got Halloween and Bonfire night in between now and C.........I can't even bring myself to say it.
Down another aisle....C...festive chocolates and treats!! It has been 20 degrees outside this week and as I type my friendly neighbourhood crown green bowlers are out playing in t-shirts under floodlights. They're not thinking about the December-fest!
So, what's to be done? Yes, you who clearly has far too much time on their hands judging by the fact that you're reading this drivel? I say ban all mentions/adverts/propaganda of the 25th December until the 1st December and that way we can make at least one month of the year really special rather than trying to stretch it out over a third of the year.
Who's with me?!
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