Building Relationships

Billie, our local Big Issue Seller is a bit of a star around these parts.....mainly down to her 'nothing is going to get me down' attitude, even when life chucks her some lemons.

I think the world of Billie. She makes me smile from yards away as I hear her shouting out in the morning, trying to entice another person to buy a Big Issue. I find her hugely inspiring. She has been through such a tough time in life, and I am sure has seen things we wouldn't want to see, but a few years ago she decided to change her attitude, stop being negative and appreciate just what she had...and that was her life. Thanks to the Big Issue she has been able to earn money to change her life.

Recently she proudly told me how she went to 10 Downing Street and had tea with the Prime Minister...yes, the Prime Minister! She had the fortune of sitting in Sir Winston's Churchill's chair, and at the desk where Margaret Thatcher worked. She pulled out her phone and showed me a snap of her with Gordon Brown - how many of us can say we met the man who is running our country (whether you like him or not)!

She is also a little bit famous.....she has had a few articles written about her in national papers, in Time Out Magazine and most recently The Guardian newspaper (link below). But why? Why write about Billie? I guess you can't fail to hear her as she shouts 'Good morning ladies, good morning gents' every day as people pass her by.......you can't fail to see her as she dances about, playing with her amazing dog, Solo (who by the way should be on Britain's Got Talent).....however, I think the reason she has been in so many articles, including this one, is that she is an inspirational, genuine person, who reminds us that in this day and age, showing care and compassion is not dead. She KNOWS how to build relationships with her customers.

So how can you do this? Here's some tips for success:

• Become genuinely interested in other people
• Smile
• Be a good listener
• Talk in terms of the other persons interests
• Remember their name
• Make the other person feel important - and do it with sincerity
• Ask questions
• Encourage others to talk about themselves

Billie does all this naturally!

I would love Billie to find a full-time job, maybe working with people who have been through tough times, as she is such a people person. And when that day happens, and I think it will, I will miss her on the corner by Pret a Manger, greeting everyone with a cheery smile, remembering their names or calling them by her own made up name (Milky for the milkman, Windy for the window cleaner, Ms Gym Box for the fitness lady).

I reckon we could all learn a lot from her..........

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/sep/18/big-issue-18-birthday

Helen Mills
Financial Controller
www.london.dalecarnegie.com