[John Palasek]

.



I wait at least a week before making a follow up call. If it's a particularly pricey job, I actually wait a bit longer.

When I call, I ask them if they have made any decisions or if they have any questions or concerns and take things from there.

I recently looked at a job which I priced at $40K. I let things go for about two weeks and then I called and left a message. They called me back that night and asked if I was psychic because they were getting ready to call me to ask about payment schedules.

I signed that job just last week.

I'm currently looking at another job with similar to higher numbers. I just met with them last Saturday and they said they'd like to consider what we discussed and they'd get back to me. So I don't plan to speak with them again for at least a week or more.

The reason I wait longer on pricey jobs is basically to let them know that---

A. I'm not desperate, (whether I am or not).

B. I do not want to come off as someone who can't wait to sign a big job or worse yet, that I never signed a job that big and I'm somewhat overwhelmed by it. (for the record, I've done jobs over $100K and my average is about $30K or so).



Waiting also sends a message that I'm perfectly comfortable working with large complex jobs with mid to high five-figure price tags and that tells them that I've been here before and it's all in a day's work. It is, actually, but a nice potential paycheck can sometimes have the most jaded among us drooling a bit and chattering on like a smitten teenager. The wait time gives us all a chance to gain some perspective, get comfortable with the numbers, the scope of the project and with each other. Of course, there's no guarantee that they'll ultimately sign with us, but the more comfortable I look, the more comfortable they'll be, and the more likely that things will work out for both of us.

It's kind of like dating in High School. It is possible to seem TOO interested or TOO anxious about going out with someone. So we learn that acting a bit more aloof or even somewhat uninterested actually produces better results.

It takes more time that way, of course, but just like the dating, it's usually worth the wait.



The games we play, huh?




-JP






.