Fifteen reasons why we shouldn’t work together
We shouldn’t work together…
I was coaching a client recently who had a gut feeling that a project he had been asked to work on may go sour. Obviously we discussed the scope of supply, the terms, the commercials, but he seemed nervous about the personality of the client. So, jokingly (half-jokingly?) I suggested he should write a blog article ‘ten reasons why we shouldn’t work together’.
Have you such a list? Would you be brave enough to compile one and blog about it?
Do you have clients you wish you could fire?
I’d love to see your list. I had to stop myself at 15 reasons 
If you are reading this, don’t worry, you’re safe, we’re all good. High five…sorry fist bump it’s 2017 after all.
Here are the 15 reasons why we SHOULDN’T work together…
1. You sent an interesting CEO a connection request on LinkedIn and he didn’t reply.
Did you offer him any value or did you go straight in for the ask? I am a huge believer in relationship building and giving what you can for free, I’m in this game for the next 30 years. Therefore, follow this rule and your will succeed. Yes, I hug trees too.
2. You run unattributable marketing and you’ve never ran a Facebook ad as they don’t work.
You hire billboards and adverts on buses because social media can’t work for B2B.
What platform do you think the employees of company X are checking 14 times a day?
I love real data, not a guess of how many times a bus is seen per day.
3. Your boss read an article on Techcrunch that said Social Media doesn’t work.
Enjoy thumbing through the yellow pages. It still exists, right?
4. You’re shopping around for the cheapest price.
In my experience to date, buy cheap-buy twice has never been truer than in business. Of course, when you find this out, it is often too late. I will never offer the cheapest service. Therefore, I have invested in myself hugely and have been fortunate enough to experience a unique career. So, I put in far more time, focus and energy than I promise to. This is my USP.
5. Your nephew is a web designer and would do it different.
Web design is so much more than a good-looking website. There is conversion optimisation, social integration and the user experience to take into account plus so much more that goes into a design. Ensure you are thinking holistically.
6. Your suppliers keep under-performing/quitting.
Unfortunately, you may have accidentally chosen unwisely, it could just be bad luck. However, if this keeps occurring it is possible your expectations may not be achievable, or if it’s the way you work, we may not be a good fit for each other.
7. You’re too busy to be involved.
I don’t need you 24/7 on the end of a phone but I will need your input initially and for you to periodically check in and comment on project progress. So, without communication, we will ultimately fail.
8. You aren’t a fan of deadlines.
If you aren’t able to keep to deadlines this will affect our project. It will also impact further projects we are both working on or due to begin. Communication and respect of each other’s time is paramount.
9. Your 22-year-old life coach advises against a business coach.
There is no substitute for experience. Five years of your ‘adviser’ doing it as a millennial doesn’t cut it. Sorry.
10. You think what I do is easy.
If it is easy I will tell you. Instantly. If I tell you it isn’t, trust me, I’m not looking to inflate the hours needed to earn an extra buck, I want you as a long standing client and for you to refer me.
11. You don’t want to grow your enterprise.
Everything I do is with growth in mind. For instance, I am results driven and I need you to have similar aspirations.
12. You’re more concerned with Cost Control than Return on Investment.
If marketing is the first thing to be cut when the sales pipeline is drying up you won’t like what I recommend.
13. You don’t know if you want to work with me.
Check out some of my case studies, testimonials and LinkedIn recommendations. Feel free to ask to speak to one of my clients. Subscribe to the Far North newsletter to get a feel of how we roll. I love 100% of my clients, seriously I do (stop blushing). I want to keep this stat, if you think we aren’t a fit, go with your gut, I do.
14. You thought of Uber first.
An idea is just that unless you execute. I only work with people who are willing to take action.
15. You can’t remember the last project you enjoyed.
You’ve probably noticed by now I love this stuff and like to work with partners with a good sense of humour. Above all, if you aren’t passionate about your business and think smiling is only for the weekends, move along, nothing to see here.
Feel free to comment below and let me know some of your reasons
Award winning Entrepreneur, Speaker and Business Coach Ian Farrar, is host of the chart topping Industry Angel Business Podcast.
Ian is also the founder of Sales & Marketing consultancy Far North Ltd.