Last week I finally got fed up with one particular telemarketer who calls us several times a week. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. (which was a complete waste of time, but that’s another blog post…) The telemarketing company responded by saying I was lying, they only called me 3 times in the past year. They said I filed the BBB complaint because I was too timid to ask their reps to stop calling! Can you imagine working for that company? Or worse, owning that company?
I realized at the time how thankful I was that we can run an honest business without lying to people, blindly robo-telemarketing, or lying to the BBB.
Main Street has been in business for almost 13 years and my home phone number is still listed in the phone book. In that time I have only had one angry client call me at home, and that was a situation that I was glad to find out about, and quickly resolved.
I don’t have caller ID on my desk phone at work. When my phone rings, I answer it. If one of our customers is frustrated and wants to talk to the President of the company, then I want take their call. It doesn’t happen very often, so I don’t have to screen my calls.
We have some great customers and business partners. Most of our sales come from referrals or repeat business from existing customers. We do very little outside marketing. We appreciate our customers and view each one as a long term relationship.
So this year I’m thankful that God has allowed me to have a business that I don’t have to live in fear of my customers or prospects. I don’t have to sell new people every month that haven’t heard of me before, and I don’t have to screen my calls or have an unlisted phone number at home.
Happy Thanksgiving!
