Don’t tell my mother, but I lost my business debit card several days ago. (Mom really hates it when I lose things, especially little pieces of plastic like credit cards or drivers’ licenses.) I’ve been hunting for it off and on all week, but now I can’t remember if I lost it in Denver over the holidays or here at my desk or ….

It’s rather frustrating when you don’t know when it’s time to say, “It’s gone.” The day before yesterday, I gave in and called the credit card company, and they canceled the card and put another one in the mail.

I’m always unsure about when to give up, whether it be trying to find a missing debit card, waiting for your cold to get better before you go to the doctor or pursuing what you thing is a really big opportunity with a potential client.

About two months ago I attended a seminar on electronic newsletters. As I mentioned in this post, my vocation as a person who provides content for electronic newsletters was very well received. I followed up with the dozen or so leads from the show, and I ended up with two really hot prospects.

The first one petered out right after I sent him a proposal for my services. Too expensive, I figured, which was a shame because he manufactured really cool, sexy bath products, and I would have worked for bath salts.

I ended up meeting with the other really big lead, a guy with a very interesting service for the real estate industry. I spent an hour plus with him in late November, and he promised he’d get back to me.

This guy is looking to start a number of initiatives — newsletters, tip sheets, web pages… all kinds of really good work for me. “I think you and I are both understating the amount of time you’ll be spending on these projects,” he said when I gave him some estimates. “I think there’s lots and lots to do.”

I’ve sent him at least two “Just checking in” emails, plus a thank you note and a Christmas card. Copywriting Guru Peter Bowerman says if you’re focused on one project coming through, you’re not doing enough marketing. But I really think this lead has great potential, and I bet that my potential client just can’t take the time to sit down and figure out what he wants me to do.

So do I keep following up? Sometimes I feel like a teenager waiting for the phone to ring. One of the reasons I’m not as worried about it as I could be is that I have an electronic newsletter myself that goes out once a month. Thus, at least once a month this guy knows I still exist. And when he’s ready to move forward, maybe he’ll call.