I was at a networking event the other night and was subjected to what I like to call “creepy guy syndrome.” Yes, that’s the technical term! And, unfortunately, both men AND women business owners can catch “creepy guy syndrome!”
If you run into an entrepreneur with “creepy guy syndrome,” they are that person at a networking event that latches on to you. They follow you around the whole night. And just when you think you’ve escaped… there are the endless follow up emails and phone calls and invitations to coffee. You might even start to avoid other networking events fearing you will run into them again.
You know you’ve caught “creepy guy syndrome” when you are PURSUING someone that YOU think is a potential client. Unfortunately, your feelings are entirely one-sided. Truth is, the person you see as your ideal potential client … well, they are just not that into you.
“Creepy guy syndrome” can have its onset in a sales conversation too. We suddenly find ourselves trying to CONVINCE the potential client how great it would be to work together. And the potential client is NOT feeling it!
When a potential client isn’t into us, they use money as an excuse. They string us along, hoping we’ll go away.
The Truth? We all catch “creepy guy syndrome” at some point. I know I have! We don’t even realize that we are pursuing prospects in a way that is turning them OFF.
How do we catch “creepy guy syndrome?” Pretty simple. We fall into attachment. Maybe we’re even just a little bit desperate.
Maybe we have a bunch of bills coming up that are due and not a lot of other opportunities at the moment to make money (that you see).
Maybe we really, really, REALLY feel like we can help our prospect with our expertise and we are more invested in their transformation than they are!
Maybe we think that if this client works with us, they will potentially refer us to a bunch of clients!
I know at your core, you are NOT that “creepy guy” … even though, let’s be honest, you may be acting the part right now.
Here’s what’s really going on underneath…
You are ATTACHED to this potential client’s decision whether they work with you or not. And you are trying REALLY hard to help this person. And that feels REALLY icky to your prospect. Whether you realize it or not, you are really saying that YOU need them more than they need you. Nothing repels clients faster than coming from that place.
Here are a few reasons you may be attached to the outcome that stem from an unresolved past issue.
- You may have had a very critical mother or father growing up and deep down you never felt good enough. So subconsciously you feel that when a potential client says yes to you, it validates you. It helps you “prove” you are good enough. And if they say no, you can take it so personally…like it means that YOU are not good enough.
- You may have a money story that tells you you have to take whatever you can get. Maybe you don’t even think you have a choice in who you take on as a client. So you put up with WAY too much B.S. from people in hopes of making money.
- You may be coming from lack or fear mentality from past experiences where you learned you can’t trust life. You learned from these past experiences their are limited resources…limited opportunities.
When you can meet prospects and have sales conversations and come from a place of complete detachment…amazing things happen! Clients FIND the money. They WANT to work with you. You attract awesome people. You get to chose who you want to work with and find the power to say NO to the clients that you know will suck the life out of you.
Remember … the creepy guy NEVER gets the girl.
With Courage,
Colleen
