- DO NOT assume that just because a woman is scheduling your lunch
& learn, that she does not know what she is doing. Likely I could
teach you more than a thing or two.
- DO NOT ask me to order your lunches or go around and take individual
orders for lunches. We have as many as 6 lunch & learns a week
sometimes. I am pretty sure my rather large company did not factor into
our operating budget doing your job for you. We give you full
instructions as soon as you schedule. Please read them.
- DO NOT leave your mess behind for someone here to clean up.
- DO NOT call me demanding that your Product needs to be immediately
inserted in our specs because you talked to a Principal about it. Name
dropping one of my bosses is not going to get you into our Masters any
faster. We have procedures here and that boss will let me know when he
wants your product incorporated into our specs. If you are not in yet,
there is a reason for it and I likely know that reason. For example,
maybe another Principal with whom you did not meet had a disaster on
their project due to your product.
- DO NOT send me 30 pages of poorly written manufacturers specs and
expect it is getting into my Master anytime soon. Your company clearly
has not taken the time to be a member of CSI or to learn the spec
writing principles and language that is essential to specifications in
the project delivery process. I have spent as much as three days
rewriting a manufacturer spec to make it usable in our CONTRACT
documents. If you want your products put in my master quickly, learn
how to give me the specs the way I need them.
- When you come to visit, DO NOT talk to me like I am some kind of
moron because you assume I am a flunky. I don’t care if it is me, my
Administrative Assistant or the janitor, I will not tolerate it.
- Manufacturers, at product shows, LOSE the slick used car salesmen in
the 3-piece suits. I can spot them a mile away and avoid them like the
plague. I want someone authentic and engaging who knows their stuff
and will give it to me straight. If your product is not for me, that is
what I want to hear. Be real and do not be pushy.
- At product shows, give me the information I asked you for. DO NOT
try to keep me at your booth for 4 hours telling me about every single
product under the sun that you offer. I have a lot of people to see.
It leaves a bad taste in my mouth when you try to corner me and I
probably won’t stop by again. If I ask you for additional information
and to follow up after the show, you should probably do that. Not one
of you did from the last show I attended.
- At product shows, DO NOT assume that I am not worth your time
because my badge says engineering and you rep architectural products.
Not only is most of my history in architecture and, for all you know, I
may end up back there but I am also a leader in my very large CSI
Chapter counting many of our local architects as friends. My good
opinion of you and your products, whether I spec them or not, might just
carry some weight somewhere.
- Honey (I assume if you call me that, it is OK to call you that), my
eyes are up here, in the middle of my face. Please talk to those eyes,
there are some brains behind them.
The bottom line here, you don’t really know who you are talking to,
who they might know or where they may be going in their career. It is
in your best interest to leave behind a favorable impression with EVERY
SINGLE person you meet.
