Business is Like Dating

Have you ever asked a person out on a date and they replied, "I was waiting for you to ask." How sweet. Now I feel stupid. Here, I was worried you might say no. I agonized over the question for days. It appears that indecision almost cost me the date. But hey, I'm glad you said yes.

Not asking the question, or asking too late, can cost you business as well as dates. Why would someone buy from you if you never ask them to? Without trying to sound crass, in both cases, we are trying to make a sale. We put our best foot forward and try to look our best. We even think through the things we will say. We want to make our best impression. People might say this is where the similarities end. I think the correlation goes further.

In dating, as in business, there are many things we can do to blow things up before they even get started. In both cases, it would be destructive to discuss all the previous relationships that didn't work out. A poor sales pitch can create a one-and-done situation. Improper handling of the initial sale (or first date) may cause the customer to warn others about their bad experience. Even if things don't work out, it is critical to end on good terms to protect our reputations.

In one case, we are selling ourselves (not literally, of course), but in business, we are selling our products and services. Moving forward, it takes work to build and maintain either connection. Whether we show up late for a date or make a late delivery, we risk damaging the relationship. Businesses create customer service departments, and in personal relationships, we must fill the role of a solo customer service liaison. In each scenario, the goal is to make sure the customer (or our date) is happy.

Relationships require balance. If a relationship is one-sided, the other person does not see the value in continuing. If a business focuses only on profit, or if a customer costs more than they are worth, the association won't last. An exchange must serve each party, or it is doomed to fail. The amount of effort we put into any relationship determines the outcome.

There are other links between dating and business, but the explanations get messy. Emotion plays a much stronger role in dating than it does in business. At least it should. We can and should apply a more analytical approach to business. In either case, the courtship begins when we ask the right question.