Did you know that Cola-flavored Jell-O was introduced in 1942? Do you see it on the shelves today? That's because it flopped and was discontinued within one year! Other failed Jell-O flavors include celery, coffee, and apple. YUCK! However, without any doubt, these flavors are very, very popular as flavors in their own right, however as Jell-O flavors, they were definately a no-go! Do you have a palate for celery Jell-O? If so, obviously, you are in the minority.
This made me think of the people the we know who are GREAT people, as people go. For example, let's call one JOHN. John has a very high likeability factor. John's very popular and generally knows alot of people. Many people love John ... kind of like cola, coffee, and apples.
However, just like cola would not make a good Jell-O flavor, for specific reasons, John might not make a good referral partner for you. Perhaps John does know alot of people, but to how many of those people would he give the keys to his new BMW? This could mean his many relationships are shallow. Perhaps John really wants to help you grow your business, but he can't find the time in his busy schedule to meet with you or he cancels most meetings with you at the last minute.
It might seem like a great idea to have John as a referral partner, however upon closer exam, you may discover otherwise. I'm sure it seemed like a good idea at the time to have cola-flavored Jell-O ... however, you already know the end of that story.
Is there a referral partner that you have now that looked good on the surface but now you might need to discontinue?
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