When in doubt, just pick up the phone

This morning, I took cold calling into my own hands- literally. I decided I’m tired of waiting on tweets to get retweeted and linkedin to get responded and facebook to get tagged, I just picked up the phone and called prospects. It was a different type of call, it wasn’t my typical “we are the solutions provider for inside sales organizations” sales pitch.

This type of call was filled with part adrenaline, part panic, sprinkled with lots of urgency. It’s about my book- the one that is coming out in a few weeks. The one that is supposed to generate this enormous buzz and the one that is featured at upcoming sales conferences and the one that will take up an entire shelf at Barnes & Noble.  It usually comes up in a conversation when I’m asked “ how are things with your book? ….so exciting..what are your plans? are you going to be on TV, radio, a 5-city book-signing tour and when can we come to your launch party?”

And my stomach turns and I get this shooting pain behind my left rid and my eyes start to twitch and my jaw clamps up. You see, I’ve given up acting like I have something lined up because the truth is, I don’t. I have decided to stop acting like I’m too cool for this planet and start getting humble and practice the art of begging. That’s right, I’m willing to get into my beat up 135,000 green Saab with a trunk full of  books and take 101 South and get off at the Ralston or Tasman exits to deliver my book to any client who wants to buy them. Oh sure, I can talk and entertain their teams and make sure I walk into everyone’s cubicle and deliver my book. 

I don’t have answers, no book sales to speak of but I’m doing what I know how to do best- pick up the phone and ask, “will you please buy my book and put it into your cubicle?”