This is a response to the previous post, titled "My neighbor the saleswoman".  As I am the saleswoman and my neighbor is one our wonderful project managers.

Typically, sales people usually sit in their own area as we are frequently on the phone, loud, …most of you know how we work.   Here at Flightpath, we have a different office layout and I sit only a few feet away from a couple of our project managers.

It’s interesting sitting near them, because they can hear me answering questions from potential clients and existing clients about budget and timeframes, before I’ve even spoken to them (the people doing the work) about the project.  I can completely understand why they have fear in their eyes as to what I may be promising to close new business, but, my job is essentially to bring in business and bring it in now!   

I always call it “doing the dance”…I have to dance around 100% committing to the clients budget and timeframes, but, keeping them interested in doing business with us. And on the other side, I have to dance around letting our staff know that we have a really exciting project potentially coming our way, but, it has to be done tomorrow!   

The good news is that most of the time clients and prospects are reasonable with project deliverables and budget.  And, most of the time, I am able to set reasonable expectations with the clients and internally.  But, when a client/prospect says to me, it has to be done by this date, or we won’t get the business!, you better believe I’ll be dancing my way over to their desks to set their expectations that we are going to have to throw our schedule out the window and get this done.

We have had some crazy requests come in from clients and our team does everything in their power to deliver on time and on budget!  

It sounds like I’m selling right now…well maybe, just in case…