Tomatoes.Tomatoes were the topic of our quarterly steering meeting last month. Why? Because unsold tomatoes rot on the vine. They are not worth anything unless they are sold. Which is exactly like our billable hours. Sell 'em, or they rot. If you can't sell them - eat them.
What we have done, and I propose all people with an hourly service look at, is to get involved with non-profits and stack up the workload so that when a hour looks to be rotting, we can slip in a non-profit job and keep busy and energized. Nothing is wasted.
Why is this good? (stand on soapbox)
Right now, not-for-profits are suffering. They being taxed to do more and more with less and less. But they also make our communities richer and better through their existence. As citizens, we must feel compelled to lend a hand. It is part of living in a community.
Why is this good for business?
First
It's GREAT PR. If you can, don't just help an NFP, but donate something of value - your time. Your clients and prospects will really respect you for it.
Second
It keeps your staff excited and energized. It keeps hands from getting idle. What's more, NFPs will let you have more control. You can take some risks and do something more exciting - because you are typically footing the bill.
Finally
Maybe, just maybe, you will pick up a piece of business through the relationship. But this is a long shot, and I wouldn't count on it. Volunteer for every other reason first.
Long and short of it. Don't let the tomatoes rot. If you aren't going to eat them yourselves (a topic for another day), feed them to someone who needs it more.
