Remember: we have to ask for people's business.
Team Letter | June 26, 2023
June 26, 2023
Happy Monday, Team Alpaca!
Whoa! Just like that it’s the last week of the month and the quarter. I know we’re all feeling a sense of a “finish line” in front of us this week. Trying to get projects finished up, sales closed, designs finalized, and decisions made so that we can go into July with strong foundations to build extraordinary things for the company next month.
This week, I’d love to keep this mantra in mind: Ask for people’s business.
Asking for business is not about being a weird salesy salesman with a “what’s it gonna take to get you to say yes?!” When you see your favorite shop in town saying on Instagram “we’re open 11-5 today. Come on over!”, they are asking you for business. When a server asks you “can I get you started with some drinks?”, they are asking you for business. When your account rep calls and says “Did everything go well for you with this software?”, they are asking for your business.
Asking for people’s business involves three really important things:
Understand the other person’s need.
Have a clear offer that provides value and fills that need.
Say the words. These words: “Would you be willing to ____________?”
The thing is: if you only do the first two, it doesn’t get done.
I’d like to challenge us EACH to find a place where we might ask for someone’s business to create value for Alpaca this week. That can be a school signing on. It can be a supply vendor giving us a great deal. It could be a sponsor raising their hand for more information. When you ask for someone’s business this week, let us all know! Say it to the team. Or ask for help in how to craft the ask.
No matter your role in the company, you have an opportunity to create value for Alpaca by asking for people to work with us. Don’t be afraid! The worst they can say is no. And when (not if, but when) they say yes, we have big things to celebrate.
Finally, I’d like to encourage each of us to prioritize time together this week, in the office or in meetings with schools and stakeholders. Let’s get in there together so we can help each other get ready for July; so that we can get each others’ ideas and input; so that we can spend some time as a team before we head out. Thursday afternoon will be a great chance for us all to get aligned on the strategy and plans for Q3-Q4, and I can’t wait to spend that time with you.
Now then – let’s go ask for some business. Keep going, Alpaca!
KB