you might have someone stay behind to ask questions after you give a presentation, have someone approach you after reading a whitepaper, have someone respond to an online posting, etc.. in all cases, though, it seems as though there’s a very short amount of time to actually do something with that attention.

if you wait too long, don’t follow up, or spend your time asking for permission you’re going to lose that person and your idea isn’t going to spread. don’t ask permission: JUST GO (and apologize later)

let me give you a hint: ordinary is not unordinary.

as i’m currently in the new car market, i’m taking a look at just about every car maker under the sun right now (except dodge/chrysler/jeep).  this new car has to be the car i keep for a good while because i plan on saving up for a house or condo; i just want to upgrade my car while my trade-in is still a good value.  the one thing i’ve seen — from everyone! — has been really incredible: auto makers and dealers trying to sell me on things that are truly pedestrian…

AM/FM radio?  ordinary.
CD player?  ordinary.
power windows?  ordinary.
floor mats?  ordinary.
rear window defogger?  ordinary.
air conditioning?  ordinary.
cup holders?!  ordinary!

if you’re selling cars, boats, motorcycle sidecars, televisions, mobile phones.. yourself to a potential employer (or your organization to a potential employee!) .. whatever it is if you expect to sell, you have to remove the ordinary from your sales pitch.  you won’t earn new business by selling what everyone else has.  you need to differentiate yourself.  you need to identify where your product, services, or skills are different from the next closest competitor.  first, identify those areas, then sell that.

if you’re looking for a job, to hire a new employee, or to sell more cars, you have to make yourself special.

ordinary is not unordinary.