Creating Agenda Setting Conversations 
                                Some clients get very focused on the details of operational execution, and due to the constraints of time pressures and a short-term focus, you never have those important "agenda setting" conversations with them. After your next client meeting with someone who is like this, trying saying this: 
"With some of my best clients, in addition to having the kinds of  operational reviews that we are holding each month, we will get together  for lunch once a quarter to talk about the overall context and big  picture for our work—the client ’s plans,  priorities, upcoming initiatives, and so on. This really does help us do  a better job for you, and it also gives us a chance to provide you with  some ideas and perspectives of a more strategic nature. Would you be  amenable to trying something like that?’’
             
            
			
			    
                
			
			
                More Articles
                
                                 
                        
                            
                                
                                
                 
        
        Your Week 14 Challenge: Become a Person of Interest to the C-Suite 
        This is your final challenge in the 100-Day Client Growth program. Congratulations on finishing! This week, you’ll work on becoming a person of interest to senior executives. To complete this week’s challenge, be sure to read or listen to Week 14: Become an Irresistible Person of Interest in It Starts with Clients (pages 217-228 in the hardcover version). (If you […]
        Read article 
     
 
                 
        
        Your Week 13 Challenge: Develop a C-Suite Relationship 
        You’re in the home stretch of the 100-Day Client Growth Challenge–just one more week after this! This week, you’ll apply strategies to help build a relationship with a senior executive by adding more “value for time” in your meetings. To complete this week’s challenge, be sure to read or listen to Week 13: Build Senior […]
        Read article 
     
 
                 
        
        Week 12 Challenge: Create a Personal Promoter 
        I hope you’re enjoying these weekly challenges, and have been able to apply the clients-for-life strategies to growing your relationships. If you have any examples of progress you’ve made–client relationship successes large or small–please share them with me. I’d love to hear from you, and will confidentially highlight these examples in future emails (write me […]
        Read article 
     
 
                 
        
        Week 11 Challenge: Bring Big-Picture Thinking to Your Clients 
        I hope you’re enjoying these weekly challenges, and have been able to apply the clients-for-life strategies to growing your relationships. If you have any examples of progress you’ve made–client relationship successes large or small–please share them with me. I’d love to hear from you, and will confidentially highlight these examples in future emails (write me […]
        Read article 
     
 
                 
        
        Week 7 Challenge: Use Agenda Setting Strategies + a Bonus Video 
        [Please note: this article, and the rest of the articles in this series, together constitute the 15  emails in the It Starts with Clients Client Growth Challenge. Please subscribe here to receive them on a weekly basis over the next 100 days] In Week 7 of this challenge, you’ll use agenda setting strategies to make […]
        Read article 
     
 
                 
        
        Week 6 Challenge: Free Up a Stuck Sale 
        [Please note: this article, and the rest of the articles in this series, together constitute the 15  emails in the It Starts with Clients Client Growth Challenge. Please subscribe here to receive them on a weekly basis over the next 100 days] In Week 6 of this challenge, you’ll assess a sale that is stuck […]
        Read article 
     
 
                 
        
        Week 4 Challenge: Hold a Great First Conversation 
        [Please note: this article, and the rest of the articles in this series, together constitute the 15  emails in the It Starts with Clients Client Growth Challenge. Please subscribe here to receive them on a weekly basis over the next 100 days] In Week 4 of this challenge, you’re going to improve your effectiveness at […]
        Read article 
     
 
                 
        
        Week 3 Challenge: Gain Access and Set up Meetings 
        [Please note: this article, and the rest of the articles in this series, together constitute the 15  emails in the It Starts with Clients Client Growth Challenge. Please subscribe here to receive them on a weekly basis over the next 100 days] In Week 3 of this challenge, you’re going to begin a systematic outreach […]
        Read article 
     
 
                                 
                              
                                                                  
                         
                                     
                
                                 
                        
                            
                 
        
        Your Week 14 Challenge: Become a Person of Interest to the C-Suite 
        This is your final challenge in the 100-Day Client Growth program. Congratulations on finishing! This week, you’ll work on becoming a person of interest to senior executives. To complete this week’s challenge, be sure to read or listen to Week 14: Become an Irresistible Person of Interest in It Starts with Clients (pages 217-228 in the hardcover version). (If you […]
        Read article 
     
 
                 
        
        Your Week 13 Challenge: Develop a C-Suite Relationship 
        You’re in the home stretch of the 100-Day Client Growth Challenge–just one more week after this! This week, you’ll apply strategies to help build a relationship with a senior executive by adding more “value for time” in your meetings. To complete this week’s challenge, be sure to read or listen to Week 13: Build Senior […]
        Read article 
     
 
                 
        
        Week 12 Challenge: Create a Personal Promoter 
        I hope you’re enjoying these weekly challenges, and have been able to apply the clients-for-life strategies to growing your relationships. If you have any examples of progress you’ve made–client relationship successes large or small–please share them with me. I’d love to hear from you, and will confidentially highlight these examples in future emails (write me […]
        Read article 
     
 
                 
        
        Week 11 Challenge: Bring Big-Picture Thinking to Your Clients 
        I hope you’re enjoying these weekly challenges, and have been able to apply the clients-for-life strategies to growing your relationships. If you have any examples of progress you’ve made–client relationship successes large or small–please share them with me. I’d love to hear from you, and will confidentially highlight these examples in future emails (write me […]
        Read article 
     
 
                 
        
        Week 7 Challenge: Use Agenda Setting Strategies + a Bonus Video 
        [Please note: this article, and the rest of the articles in this series, together constitute the 15  emails in the It Starts with Clients Client Growth Challenge. Please subscribe here to receive them on a weekly basis over the next 100 days] In Week 7 of this challenge, you’ll use agenda setting strategies to make […]
        Read article 
     
 
                 
        
        Week 6 Challenge: Free Up a Stuck Sale 
        [Please note: this article, and the rest of the articles in this series, together constitute the 15  emails in the It Starts with Clients Client Growth Challenge. Please subscribe here to receive them on a weekly basis over the next 100 days] In Week 6 of this challenge, you’ll assess a sale that is stuck […]
        Read article 
     
 
                 
        
        Week 4 Challenge: Hold a Great First Conversation 
        [Please note: this article, and the rest of the articles in this series, together constitute the 15  emails in the It Starts with Clients Client Growth Challenge. Please subscribe here to receive them on a weekly basis over the next 100 days] In Week 4 of this challenge, you’re going to improve your effectiveness at […]
        Read article 
     
 
                 
        
        Week 3 Challenge: Gain Access and Set up Meetings 
        [Please note: this article, and the rest of the articles in this series, together constitute the 15  emails in the It Starts with Clients Client Growth Challenge. Please subscribe here to receive them on a weekly basis over the next 100 days] In Week 3 of this challenge, you’re going to begin a systematic outreach […]
        Read article