Business Development for Babysitters (and Lawyers!)

Couple of BD pros

Yesterday my daughter Sylvia, 13, joined me on a business development training at Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, PC. The topic was "Socializing with Intent," perfect for all the law firm summer parties, happy hours, client dinners, and events coming up on the calendar. 

Sylvia is already a bold networker and business developer, drumming up new babysitting clients at parks, coffee shops, lemonade stands, libraries, and even her parents' work events. (True story, and more than once!) 

Sylvia also babysits her teachers' kids, a reminder to us all to observe and nurture internal relationships as much as we focus on external relationships. 

Where Sylvia finds young kids and their parents, she creates new business opportunities. How does she do it? 

💡 "It's all about relationships, Dad."

💡 "Ask great questions, and help people talk about what they enjoy doing."

💡 "If you ask people what they do, you get one type of answer. Ask them who they help, and you get a whole different answer—and richer follow-up opportunities."

💡 "You can wing it and hope you ask smart questions when you meet your ideal client at an event. Or you can identify beforehand what you want from that conversation, then work backwards. ➡️ What happens after that first networking chat? ➡️ Therefore, what questions do you need to ask? ➡️ What ideas do you want to plant? ➡️ What's your follow-up plan?" 

🔥 "That's what works for me, anyway. You'll find what works for you." 

Wise words, Sylvia. We can't wait to try these suggestions. 

Thanks Ireland Stapleton and Amy O'Brien for welcoming us to the firm!