Small Business Today Magazine JUN 2014 MASTERWORD SERVICES INC | Page 20

EDITORIALFEATURE

Cut the Weeds –

A Focus on Priorities and
Strategy by Avoiding Time Zappers                      
By Hank Moore, Corporate Strategist™

O

ne of the by-products of being a high-pro- that I could not tell my “story” in one minute. I said
file person is that you get hangers-on.  Most that if he did not remember talking to me before
of them mean well and just want to associ- then that was the problem. He challenged me
ate with someone successful but there are that it was my obligation to “make a difference”
others who are groupies and some who are just which he defined as me giving time and money to
outright users. The art is to discern and margin- his pet causes. I suggested that they turn their atalize the weeds on your path (time zappers) by tentions elsewhere.The caller then got hyper and
talked all over me. I stated that I wasn’t interested
focusing on priorities and strategy.
in his projects and needed to end the call.

One well meaning person kept hounding me
People who hound and use you in business are
and wanted to introduce me to people that I
out for whatever they
could form “strategic partcan get from whomevnerships” with. Instead, it
Then he shifted
er they can get it. If you
turned out that they were
people who had their
from one idea to another. resist, they will go on to
the next warm body. This
hands out and thought
I patiently listened then
is why I have a problem
that somebody (anybody)
tried to get away.
with networking. Some
would magically open
This person had already
are users and others are
doors for them. I kept
called
me
weeks
before
used by them while othtrying to set boundaries
ers don’t know what they
with that person but they
but could not remember
are doing.
would not respect my pawho I was or what I was

rameters. 
all about. This was a “dial
One must be resolute

and smile” sales call. It was in protecting their most
One of his “strategic
one-sided, self-focused,
valuable and limited compartners” blindsided me
modities: time, knowlwith an unscheduled conand all about him. 
edge, and resources. 
ference-call. Neither one
Weeds (time zappers)
asked if this was a good
time to talk nor apologized for calling without any are everywhere crying, “Gimme”. One can never
warning. In a rapid-fire sales delivery, he began by cut all of the weeds down because they re-grow
trying to sell me stock in a venture.Then he shift- elsewhere. I’ve learned the hard way the value of
ed from one idea to another. I patiently listened prioritizing time and focusing on the people and
then tried to get away. This person had already projects that matter.

called me weeks before but could not remember
who I was or what I was all about.This was a “dial Questions to Ask About Weeds and Networking
and smile” sales call. It was one-sided, self-focused, • Is the person making the request a true friend,
and all about him. 
a business associate, or just an acquaintance? 

Who are they to you and what would you
The caller then announced that he had a time
like for them to be?  
commitment and that I had one minute to state • Will there be an outcome or payback for the
my case. I explained that they had called me and
other person? Will there be an outcome or

18 SMALL BUSINESS TODAY MAGAZINE [ JUNE 2014 ]