Why My Wet January Is Good For Your BD Efforts

Go ahead. Have it your way.

Spoiler alert: There's no booze in this post. Or lunch! That's the point.

I started the year stuffed. Like, literally, overfed. I know I'm not alone, fresh off the holidays and all. 

Rather than keep doing what I had been, I decided no lunches in January. 

That means I've had a lot of coffee with people instead. You know what? It's been great. 

I used to think lunch signaled a proper BD meeting. We'd work through pleasantries, compare notes on the menu, discuss substance when the entrees came, then do the cute dance about the check. (No, I've got it. For real.)

But truthfully, I'm tired of lunch. So I made January my no-lunch month, and it's been freeing.  Coffees have been every bit as effective, and there's actually less distraction than lunch involves. 

✅ No awkward waiting at the host stand (if you've arrived at the same time). 

✅ No distracted menu-skimming and rushed decision-making. 

✅ No angsty looking around for that iced tea refill just when we get to the important stuff. 

Coffee is . . . less. And perhaps for that reason, it's more. 

💡 Fewer distractions means we pay more attention to each other. 

It's working so well, I might just keep going in February. 

Instead of offering coffee or lunch, which I've always done before, I'll simply invite people to coffee. (Except when I'm traveling. Then I have to eat anyway, and you know, never eat alone.)

The truth is, so much of my BD happens over Zoom, email, and LinkedIn, abstaining from lunch shouldn't be a big deal. 

So why does this matter to you? 

➡️ Do BD in the ways that work for you. 

➡️ Don't do performative BD because someone told you or you've assumed that it has to be done a certain way. I'll back you up on calling BS on that every single time. 

Instead, answer this question: How and where do you show up best to help people know, like, and trust you? 

Whatever the answer, do that. 💡 

Want help determining the right BD activities for you? Send me a note at matt@axismarketingstrategies.com. Exploratory calls are always free. I'm willing to bet you'll walk away with something of value, even if we don't work together. ☺️