How a biscuit forced me to be as authentic as it gets
It’s 4 o’clock in the afternoon…
I’m on a call with a prospect, chatting through a potential project.
The conversation is flowing. I’m going through all the points from my pitch. My, hopefully soon, new client is nodding along. Everything feels calm and competent.
Then a high-pitched voice cuts through the air like a fire alarm.
“I want a biscuit!”
I freeze.
It’s my toddler. Despite Paw Patrol playing in the other room and the carefully prepared tray of snacks I left her, she has decided that life is now incomplete without a biscuit.
Trying to keep my carefully curated aura of professionalism intact, I smile politely at my screen and say,
“My apologies for this. I’ll be just a minute.”
Ten seconds later, I’m back in my chair attempting to stitch the conversation back together like nothing happened.
“I don’t like it!”
Pause.
“I want to do drawing.”
So much for subtlety.
At this point, I realise the professionalism I was aiming for has officially been upgraded with a generous dose of reality.
My head is spinning.
I’m thinking about the clock, the call, the impression I’m making, and whether it’s socially acceptable to negotiate with a toddler mid-sales conversation.
Fifteen minutes. That’s all I needed, but family life and working from home had other plans.
So I did the only sensible thing left.
I laughed and I surrendered to the situation.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “This is my life at 4 p.m.”
In that moment, something interesting happened. Something I did not expect.
The tension disappeared.
The conversation became warmer and more genuine.
“Don’t worry,” my prospect said “it’s not a problem”…
That’s the thing about authenticity. We often think it’s risky. It’s something to smooth out or hide behind better lighting and quieter rooms.
But most of the time, it’s exactly what makes people trust you.
Knowing that, just like them, you are simply doing your best, occasionally interrupted by someone who really wants a biscuit…
If, like me, you had your family life interrupt your work, share your stories with me in the comments.
P.S.
If you’re new to my posts — Hi 👋 I’m Dot. A direct response copywriter. I write copy that carries one consistent story across every touchpoint, converting sceptical prospects into confident yeses.
To find out more how I can help you get more sales, send me a message. I’m surprisingly easy to talk to.