Only Book What You’re Willing to Own
In episode 313, Kelly shares a hard lesson from a time he tried to “help” a client by booking a series of account management meetings he was not going to attend. The introductions were easy because the trust and credibility were already built, and the prospects said yes because of Kelly’s relationship with them. But once the client missed one meeting, then another, Kelly realized the damage was landing on his name, not theirs. Instead of doing business development, he found himself apologizing, rescheduling, and working to repair relationships that took years to earn.
The core message is simple and sharp: if you are not accountable for the outcome, you should not be booking the meeting. Kelly breaks down exactly what went wrong and how quickly credibility can be spent when you put yourself in the middle of a process you do not control. He closes with clear principles to protect your reputation: only book what you are willing to own, control the first impression, treat your network like equity, remove yourself as the middleman, and ensure accountability before opening doors.
Key Takeaways:
- If your name is on the meeting, you are accountable for the outcome whether you attend or not.
- Credibility is currency in business development and every introduction spends a little of it.
- Never book meetings you cannot personally control or confidently stand behind.
- Acting as the middleman without authority puts all the risk on you and none of the control.
- First impressions set the tone for the entire relationship so be present to guide them.
- Good intentions do not protect your reputation. Boundaries do.
- Relationships built over years can be damaged quickly by missed expectations.
- Accountability must exist before opportunity or you are gambling with trust.
- Your network is equity, not loose change. Treat every intro like it costs something.
- Protecting your reputation is more important than trying to help or say yes to everything.
This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by our 2026 Title Sponsor, Hypervac Technologies, North America’s leading manufacturer of industrial vacuum and hydro excavation trucks. If you are looking for world class equipment built for performance, reliability, and the toughest job sites, check them out at www.hypervac.com and see why so many companies trust Hypervac to power their operations.
Got a wild, funny, unbelievable, or unforgettable story from your time at work? Submit your story to I Used To Work There and you might be featured on the show. Email us at hr@IUsedToWorkThere.com and we’ll send you the quick intake form and recording options. We review every submission and would love to hear yours.
If you want to connect more directly, ask questions, and grow alongside other driven leaders, join The Catalyst Club. It’s Kelly Kennedy’s private leadership and business development community built for leaders by leaders, with live sessions, practical resources, and real conversations that help you move the needle every week. Learn more at www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub.
Mentioned in this episode:
Hyperfab Midroll
