One of my 2017 goals is to get rid of things that I don't use anymore, so I'm doing some pre-spring cleaning. 

Last week I posted ads on Kijiji (the Canadian equivalent of CraigsList) and then answered emails from potential buyers. 

Some of my stuff sold, but I had some people telling me that they're "definitely" buying whatever item they messaged about, and asked me to hold off on selling it until we could meet up ... and were never heard from again. 

Or they checked the item out in person, verbally said they wanted it but had to "clear it with my spouse", arrange a truck, or something like that.  And sometimes I didn't hear back from that person. 

In cases like this, I don't get too upset.

Maybe it's my real estate background, but I don't celebrate until the money is in hand.  

Back then, I saw that too much could happen before closing day to derail a sale.  

The same goes nowadays re: coaching. 

Yet I see a lot of coaches and online entrepreneurs celebrating getting new "clients" without a nickel being paid, just a verbal promise to hire the coach. 

Verbal commitments may make you feel warm and fuzzy, until you're left wondering why the person went MIA.

Or even worse, you do a bunch of work and are then left high and dry. 

Until the paperwork is signed and money changes hands, remember that the person isn't a client. He/she is a potential client, a prospect. 

That's why it's so important to keep an ample flow of potential clients coming your way.  Here's how you can do it: 

Marc