So, what do you do for a living?

Written by: Ted Frangos, Licensed Professional Business Coach

If I were to ask you “what do you do for a living”, what would you say? Would you say, I am a chiropractor, a plumber, a sales rep for xyz company, an insurance agent? If you were to ask me what I do, I’ll tell you what I would not say. I would not say I am a business coach, even though that’s exactly what I am.

Why not, you ask… Because if I were to say that to you, you would say, “oh that’s nice” or “that’s interesting”, and you may not even know what a business coach is. The chances are much less that you would know what a business coach could do for your company. More importantly, those are not the responses I want you to give me. How many times have you told someone “I am a _______ and heard a similar response followed by an uncomfortable silence? I hate when that happens! So, let’s work on this a bit.

Take out a piece of paper and write down two or three benefits you provide to your customers/clients. Make them short and sweet. Now with them in mind, write down a few problems that those benefits solve. C’mon, get a piece of paper and do it, this is really simple, will only take a few minutes and I promise it will make you money.

Done? Ok. Now all you have to do the next time someone asks you what you do for a living is answer them by saying… “You know how? [the problem you wrote down]. What I do is [tell them the benefits you wrote down]. Then wrap it up with another benefit statement. And make it a strong benefit statement.

Ex: You: What do you do Ted?
Me: You know how small business owners are so passionate about growing their
Companies, but they often feel overwhelmed, alone, or get stuck on solving
the same problems over and over again?

You: Yea, uh huh…
Me: Well, what I do is help them clearly define exactly what they need to
do, teach them exactly how to do it…then I work with them on a continuing
basis to make sure that everything keeps getting done (pause) so they can
finally enjoy the business, lifestyle [Time & Money] they’ve always wanted.
(italics added for emphasis)

Me: (at some point near the end of the conversation…be cool)
May I give you my card in case you know of anyone I can help with my
services? Do you have a card?

Like it? It’s yours to use. However it wont’t work unless you employ the answer to the old joke, How do you get to Carnegie Hall?... Practice. (Sorry, my wife and I took a few days off last week to walk around Manhatten and I get that one stuck in my head every time we walk up 57th street).

Important: This must be turned into a flowing conversation. If it sounds “canned” or like a 30 second networking commercial (which it can be also) it will not produce the desired effect. So practice. Practice with your spouse, friends, your staff, or anyone else who will help you…even with your business coach!

Ted Frangos is licensed by the Professional Business Coaches Alliance www.PBCA.biz and is the President of Victory Business Coaching Corp., in Boca Raton. www.VictoryBusinessCoaching.com