I'm fortunate to work with a fabulously smart and very wonderful marketing director who handles a few departments for An International Leader in Medical Widgets. We had a meeting today.
Me: What do you think of my prices?
Betsy: I think they're fine but my boss says that department has no money in the budget.
Me: Okay, then. (scribbles new numbers) How's this?
Betsy: Well, that's better, but you know what they'll say.
Me: I know. They have no money. (more scribbling)
Betsy: Yes, let's try that. I'm sorry, really.
Me: No, totally fine. How about the project that seems to be on hold in That Other Department you handle? What's the status?
Betsy: We're just waiting for the go-ahead. They're still at work on their branding but apparently,they have no money either.
Me: No budget. Hmmmm. So, which department has any money?
Betsy: Finance.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A conversation with a client
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3 comments:
You handled that one well, but that's not a great situation. I run away when I hear there's no budget -- or I charge more. It's funny, they never seem to have the money necessary, but double the price and then everyone is in. ;-)
Good luck on the business development. You have that down in spades.
Feh! Hilarious. And yet also not.
I agree with Frank. Stick to your numbers. If they don't think your time is worth that much money, do you really want to work for them? Uh, no.
Business without finance is a NUISANCE....
Alfonso
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