Monday Morning Match is a quick post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.
Gut instinct is a great thing and could help you make some really good decisions. But more often than not, we can be a bit quick with our initial thoughts, feeling and instincts. As the old saying goes, we should “never judge a book by its cover,” right?
This past weekend I was in a pub grabbing a bite to eat. The place had an old guy playing acoustic guitar entertaining the patrons that were there to eat and drink. Upon first glance, this guy looked like a cross between an over the road trucker, a high school science teacher and Kris Kristofferson. People who might have seen him walking in with his guitar case probably would have thought he was just helping out his performer son or daughter with the heavy lifting. 
I sort of rolled my eyes to the bartender as he came back from his break and said hello to the crowd.
Then he started to play.
Ever song he played was a good one. His guitar playing was flawless, his voice was solid and the engagement with the audience was authentic and sincere. The staff were all mouthing the words to his songs as they worked and this guy truly seemed to be enjoying his gig. The applause between songs was almost non-existent at first but with each and every song, this guys fan base seemed to grow.
Have you ever found yourself just “going through the motions” at open houses because the guests didn’t look like they were serious? How about that last sign call you took? Are you sure you’re giving every caller the benefit of the doubt? Would you treat a walk-in the same at 6:55pm on a Friday night as you were walking out that you would at 10:30am on a Wednesday as you were walking in?
If I looked at your web presence right now, what might I think about your attention to detail? How do you come across on social networks like Twitter or Facebook? Is your blog up-to-date? Do you have the latest technology or are you still using a flip phone?
If I toured your listings tomorrow, would I be distracted by any clutter or things out-of-place? Does your dress reflect the service you provide and the person that you are? When people see your office, logo or hear your brand name, what do they think?
While you would hope they wouldn’t ever think anything about you other than that you’re a professional, hard-working, loyal, ethical person…what if they didn’t?
Want to maximize the chances that you’ll be looked at through the right lens? Focus on building relationships, solving problems and having fun.
Trust me, the audience will be forced to notice.
Photo Credit: Derek Gavey via Creative Commons