Never waste a wrong number

By Tim Kolacz

In my business, I meet a bunch of different people in an astonishing large amount of different industries. When I meet someone, and the small talk begins, I like to tell a bit of a story. This works out typically pretty well and soon enough, we can have a conversation that is not too strained or awkward to where we are both thinking “Good God, when can I run away from this crazy person!”

However, what happens when you meet someone where it is in a more awkward situation, like at the grocery store? Or on the phone when it rings and you actually answer it, even though you don’t recognize the number? So about a week ago, yesterday as I write this, I am in Stater Bros and I have like 12 things to buy and a woman is in line behind me and has only one item. I say to her, “If you’ve only got one item, go ahead of me”; to which she replies, “Nah, I’m in no hurry. Thanks, though”. So I could have left it at that, turned around, checked out and left. But, what fun would that have been. So I then stuck out my hand, said “Hi, I’m Tim, how are you today?” She laughed, shook my hand and said her name was Linda.

We then chatted about why she was buying Rennet and what kind of cheese she was going to make. We laughed a bit more and then I introduced Linda to our cashier who by now had a big smile on her face. Also, the people behind us were giggling as well and we all had a grandiose time. Well, at least I did.

The same thing can happen when you are out at a lunch or when you pick up a wrong number. A buddy of mine from a previous life, Dick Kothe, always told me to “Never waste a phone call”. So it’s rather interesting when I am out and there is clearly someone looking for someone else at a restaurant or bar and they ask, “Are you Larry?” I answer in stereotypical Tim Kolacz fashion and say “No, but I’m Tim Kolacz and I can be Larry if you are looking for business insurance!”

This has always generated a laugh from the person I am speaking to and about half the time I end up making a connection and getting their business card. Even if nothing ever comes out of it, perhaps I made their day a bit more interesting and they can maybe tell a story about the crazy guy they met at the bar and what a loon the guy was.

But here’s the thing, they were talking about me and if they talk about me to the right person for me, then perhaps a connection can be made without me doing anything different than from what I do normally. By never wasting an opportunity to talk to someone, anyone, about what you do or things you like to do, whether it’s work or fun related, if you can make just one more connection a week, magically, you have over 50 new people that could potentially be a new friend, new colleague or maybe just maybe, your new biggest client.

Now who wants to waste that?

Tim Kolacz is an Account Executive with HUB international Insurance Services and can be reached at (951) 779-8730 or [email protected]