Introducing Joel D Canfield

( . . . and that’s the last time I’ll refer to myself in the third person . . . )

The invisible man breaks his silence at last.

About three years ago Sue’s virtual assistant service completed the transition to a social media support service for nonfiction authors. For the decade before that, I focused on our two other businesses: Spinhead Web Design and Someday Box Indie Publishing. For the past 3 years those businesses have been allowed to languish while I focused on my fiction writing.

I’ve always been in the background here at Chief Virtual Officer Ausoma. As we tighten our focus and create specialty packages to bring in new business (hint hint) we’ve agreed it’s time for me to get out of the shadows and speak up. You’ve probably noticed a change in the tone of the blog of late; now that we have bylines, you’ll note that there are two voices, Sue’s staid and sensible voice, and my quirky ramblings. Quirky, as in, my business title (for this week at least) is CBR—Curmudgeon in the Back Room. We’ve acted like an old married couple since long before we were an old married couple. It’s our thing, I guess.

… more … “Introducing Joel D Canfield”

When’s the Last Time You Said “Yes” But Did “No” ?

Meeting organizers know too well that if you get 40 “yes” RSVPs, you’ll get 12 attendees, maybe even less.

When did it become so acceptable to say yes, I’ll be there, and then not only fail to show, but to simply ignore the entire thing?

Yes, I’m a crusty old codger who believes that manners matter as a foundation of business. But I’ll bet even you young folks would prefer to get 13 yeses and 27 maybes than have those 27 people say something they don’t really mean.

Don’t use your RSVP as a way to reward the meeting organizer for having a good idea. Don’t use it to fill up your calendar so you look busy (nobody cares if you’re busy; they’re too busy to notice.) Don’t tell them what you hope to do, tell them what you intend to do.

Hold yourself accountable for keeping your word in even the little things. It’s the only way to be absolutely sure you’ll be keeping your word when the big things come along.

Besides, your prospects might be watching, and you know you want them to think you keep your word, right?