I used to be fairly stingy when it came to sharing leads and opportunities. I had that typical “competitive” thinking that caused me to think that if I shared leads with others, it would somehow hurt my chances of getting more work. Over the years, however, I have learned that there is far more “work” out there than I could ever do even if I wanted to and that by sharing leads and referrals, I have opened up more opportunities for myself as well as for others.
The truth is—there HAVE been times when I have been lost bids or jobs to someone that I shared the lead with. But in the end, they probably did a better job than I ever could have and the networking and good will I created by sharing were valuable too. I have also been able to build some working partnerships with other people who do similar work, but have a bit of a different skill set than me—graphic designers and artists, advertising specialists, etc. Then, when they really need someone with my skill set—a writer or copy-editor or marketer, we can partner up instead of compete.
Even though I have lost a job or two, I have not really been permanently “burned” by sharing leads and referrals, so my philosophy has changed over the years. Now, I do share information I get about job possibilities, projects, even workshops and conferences and speaking opportunities. I am only one person and it doesn’t really help anyone for me to hoard all that information for myself. As I mentioned earlier, I couldn’t do it all if I tried and I would rather stay connected with a “community.” Besides, someone else might share something with me that turns out to be a perfect fit for my home business!
Also: Ask For and Nurture Referrals
It Costs Less to Keep Existing Customers