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The mind is a powerful tool and anything is possible as long as you believe.
Tomorrow morning my business partner is having a meeting with a prospective client I have been wining and dining over the phone during our more than 6 month lock down period. I cannot emphasize how much effort has gone into this as it is literally hours of small talk and chasing. In some ways it is like landing a hot date except this is going to pay you big financially. I actually take much pleasure in landing any new account and the harder ones are the most rewarding.
We trust each other though and he is driven by money nearly as much as I am. the difference is he has am account that is already full being in business for around 15 years now. This could take the edge out of things as I believe you need to be on the edge to land these big clients. What I am saying is you need to be at least one step ahead of where the conversation is going during the negotiation. Nothing is guaranteed until they are happy and not just happy they need to be comfortable with the choice.
Companies this size don't just change suppliers and you have to make it worth their while. We are praying that they have been with their current supplier for a few years so we know there is wiggle room. I happen to know they will move just on price right now as long as they are happy with the product. If a company changes their milk supplier sand saves a few thousand dollars per year because of tea and coffee then they are primed. Small things you pick up getting to know people as they tend to brag about their exploits and saving prowess.
If an employee who happened to be the company buyer came and bragged that story to me I wouldn't be impressed as that is his or her job and should be checking the finer details like costs all the time. I had a similar role in the past and pricing was checked on a regular basis as that at the end of your day is the company profits. I think this is why I get a bit caught up in these things as I know how much these larger companies are throwing away.
From experience I know we are most likely looking at a $5 000 saving as they are big but not the biggest so if we are able to land their big spends then with all the other shopping list items possible closer to $10 000 per month in direct savings. Sounds crazy I know as the other companies I am busy with will be similar but we are talking double or even triple the savings over the same period.
I won't mention the companies names for obvious reasons but bad buying habits have been around for a while so much so we thought their was corruption. On that front I am still not sure as anyone who is getting screwed for $30 000 per month on short supply needs to either be part of it or be fired for not seeing it. My job is to protect that person right now and make them look good. I cannot make it super obvious either and has to be gradual. This we will have to discuss face to face as I have never encountered this before. Two and a half years to get this far with this particular account and they are literally life changing numbers.
I haven't been over seas for my annual break and shopping trip for what must be 4 years now. my clothes all need replacing and promised myself that will only happen once the 3 accounts I have lined up are done and dusted. There would be a reason to celebrate and finally relax and what has kept the fire burning pushing me on each day. The next goals may not be as hard or perhaps even bigger as everyone needs something to make them tick.
Hive has played it's part as it has made me more results driven than before as it has somehow got me more focused with a clear train of thought. I am not the same person that signed up 30 months ago as I have developed way beyond my expectations and everything just seems so clear cut and simple.