If You Don’t Call Them, They Won’t Call You

Recently, I was looking at a flyer for a speaking event. It featured guest speakers and a panel full of familiar faces—people I know well. The kind of folks I could pick out of a lineup at the grocery store. I knew their names, their businesses, their work. So naturally, the thought hit me: Why didn’t they call me?
Why wasn’t I invited to be on the panel? Why wasn’t I one of the speakers?

And then I had to pause and be honest with myself.

They didn’t call me—not because they don’t like me. They didn’t call me because… I don’t call them.

I don’t attend their events. I’m not a member of the Chamber. I don’t show up to their lunches. I don’t go to their mixers, workshops, or fundraisers. If I’m being real, I probably don’t even read all the emails they send me.

So when it came time for them to choose speakers, they chose people who were top of mind—people who show up. People they see regularly. People they know what’s going on with, because they actually talk to them. That’s not me. I wasn’t there, and when you’re not present, you’re not remembered.

I can’t sit back and pout about why they didn’t call me. The truth is simple:
If you don’t call them, they won’t call you.

So here I am, sitting on my pity pot, asking myself the real question:
Do I really want to be the speaker at their next event?
Do I want to be the one they feature, highlight, or refer to others?

If the answer is yes, then I need to get up, put on my nice clothes, leave the comfort of my cozy little bubble, and go to their event.

In business—and in life—you can’t expect to be top of mind if you’re nowhere to be seen. Visibility matters. Presence matters. Relationships matter.

So if you’re trying to market your business, and you want the Chamber of Commerce (or any community organization) to refer people to you, here’s a suggestion:

Join the Chamber.
Go to the next luncheon.
Stand up, introduce yourself, shake a few hands.

And here’s the kicker—you might have to do it more than once. You might have to become a participant. You might even have to flip pancakes at the next fundraiser breakfast.

If that’s not your gig, that’s totally fine. But if you’re not showing up, don’t be surprised when your phone doesn’t ring.

Because if you don’t call them… they won’t call you.