I was privileged to attend my local Toastmasters District Conference recently. Friday night’s opening event was a Table Topics Contest. Table Topics is impromptu speaking that allows participants to “Think on Their Feet”. Table Topics is also fast, that is unless you’re the speaker.
In Table Topics the idea is to tell a mini-story with a beginning, a body and a conclusion all within 2 minutes. The contestants must speak for at least 60 seconds to qualify. A Timer switches on a green light and the contestant knows they are at least in the running. At 90 seconds the speaker sees a yellow light. Now, the speaker should be thinking about tying their story together and it’s ending. At 120 seconds the speaker gets a red light and must wrap up their thoughts in 15 seconds. It’s a real talent to do this well. However, each contestant will tell you all it takes is practice.
The contestants were secluded and one by one they where invited to the stage and asked the same question by the Table Topics Master.
Are the Valleys as important as the Mountaintops?
I did my own personal judging on each contestant as they spoke. There were seven participants in all. As the judges were scoring the contestants, the question seeped back into my head, like a song that you can’t get out of your mind. The answers were thoughtful, insightful, funny and witty. The individual I chose to win didn’t even place in the top three. What were the judges looking for that I did not see? I knew they had to be as objective as possible. They all had guide sheets to keep the judging as fair as possible. I was missing something.
The person that did win had done an excellent job. Then, I got the “ah ha” moment of why the winner had won. They had “connected” with the audience. They took the question of the “Valleys” as being as important as the “Mountaintops” in a way that “connected” with the judges. The winner’s answer went from the judges ears and transcended to their hearts. All during the conference this word “connect” keep cropping back up. “Being Connected.” “Getting Connected.” “Connecting” your goals to your Speaking". Like the Valleys and the Mountains, the question “connected” me to the idea that one does not exist without the other.
Our lives are very much like this. We strive for the top, for the Mountains vistas which are often uncluttered and empty. The Valleys are where we mostly dwell and often don’t challenge ourselves to get out of. The challenge in Toastmasters and in life is to “connect” the two so there is balance. To appreciate the mountaintops and their rewards we start off in the Valley. We also know well that we are often brought back to the Valley. The process is ongoing. My life is now is transitioning from the green light to the yellow. One day it will go from the yellow to the red. Until then the goal for me is to appreciate the pinnacle when there and work towards it’s summit when I am back in the valley.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Spring is a great time of year.
Living in Colorado you notice when spring arrives. The colors become so much more vibrant. The beige drabness of winter’s brown sepia tones slowly recede to the welcoming of verdant green. You first notice it with the grass. The vibrant fresh green shoots emerge from their winter’s sleep. Bulb plants with their strong stems erupt from the ground still cold with the frost of the last snow. This is followed by the emergence of color from the persistent blooms. Brilliant red’s, yellow’s and pink’s of flowering tulips. Azure hues of blue and purples from crocus and hyacinth. The forsythia’s vibrant yellow attracts the eye and the bees.
The foliage of trees unfurls daily. The bones of branches that stood their ground for all of winter, are now rewarded with a new canopy of shade to block the oncoming longer days and luminous sun.
Outdoor activities are resumed. Baseball returns and the “crack of the bat” on ball field’s, that awaken with players enthused to return. Bikes are ridden on pathways long abandoned by snow and are now happy to accept wheels rolling along. Laughter returns to play areas and children dangle from seats being pushed to and fro.
There is renewed hope in the air. The gleam of the sun light is brighter and more radiant. The blue of the sky is sharply contrasted by the milky-white snow which still rings the uppermost peaks of the majestic Rocky Mountains. The dimness of the season past, awakens to the crystalline approach of the new day. Dull become sharp. Dusty becomes clean.
There is a sense of rebirth and newness and that anything can be accomplished. Now is the time to reawaken those intentions. Now is the time to start anew those plans put on hold after the commitment of the New Year. Reexamine, recommit and replace old habits with recast spirit. Do the thing that you have been waiting to do, now. Seize it now while it is fresh and commands your attention. Immediacy gets things done. Engage it. Accomplish it.
Spring, the very word is a call to action.
The foliage of trees unfurls daily. The bones of branches that stood their ground for all of winter, are now rewarded with a new canopy of shade to block the oncoming longer days and luminous sun.
Outdoor activities are resumed. Baseball returns and the “crack of the bat” on ball field’s, that awaken with players enthused to return. Bikes are ridden on pathways long abandoned by snow and are now happy to accept wheels rolling along. Laughter returns to play areas and children dangle from seats being pushed to and fro.
There is renewed hope in the air. The gleam of the sun light is brighter and more radiant. The blue of the sky is sharply contrasted by the milky-white snow which still rings the uppermost peaks of the majestic Rocky Mountains. The dimness of the season past, awakens to the crystalline approach of the new day. Dull become sharp. Dusty becomes clean.
There is a sense of rebirth and newness and that anything can be accomplished. Now is the time to reawaken those intentions. Now is the time to start anew those plans put on hold after the commitment of the New Year. Reexamine, recommit and replace old habits with recast spirit. Do the thing that you have been waiting to do, now. Seize it now while it is fresh and commands your attention. Immediacy gets things done. Engage it. Accomplish it.
Spring, the very word is a call to action.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Finding My Way Around
I just came back from a business trip to New York City and Northern New Jersey. Now, I am not intimidated by much, however driving in these two places can be challenging to say the least. Having grown up in Los Angeles and driving in a major urban area I am well tested to be able to compete on the roads of the East Coast. The major difference in my opinion is that the roads are narrower and they drive crazier. Lanes seem to mean nothing.
Thank goodness for the GPS system I rented with the car. I arrived bleary eyed from my overnight flight and arrived at LaGuardia Airport ready for the day. I found the bus to the rental car lot an there was the car I rented ready to go. The GPS system neatly attached to the front window.
I entered the address of my first sales call and proceeded on my way. Within thirty minutes I arrived at my destination on Long Island. What a great tool to have. I made my appointment on time and had a great call. My next few stops were all on Long Island and the GPS system made finding them all quite easy.
My day was a success and I survived day one. So often I am trying to read a map and drive at the same time. I also have used the internet mapping program as a backup, yet here too you have to read while driving.
The neat thing about the GPS is that it gives you directions verbally while you drive. If there is traffic up ahead it gives you notice to make other plans. If you miss your turn or can’t get over in traffic the GPS recalculates and works to get you back on track to find your destination.
Success in business is much the same. You have to use your internal GPS system to know how to get from point A to Point B. You have to have a strategy or better yet an intention to succeed. You have to plan, execute and recalculate if things don’t come together as planned. Tools like GPS are wonderful new technologies to use. They make the effort all effortless. Yet, without careful planning and a direction in mind, GPS can take you anyplace but where you need to go. My experience has been you have to have a destination in mind before you make your trip. I visualize my trips, my business and my success everyday. I use the tools available to help me with my success. You can as well. Now, if they can only give a bit more notice on the GPS when I am in the fast lane to slow down because the off ramp is coming up on the right in .02 miles
Thank goodness for the GPS system I rented with the car. I arrived bleary eyed from my overnight flight and arrived at LaGuardia Airport ready for the day. I found the bus to the rental car lot an there was the car I rented ready to go. The GPS system neatly attached to the front window.
I entered the address of my first sales call and proceeded on my way. Within thirty minutes I arrived at my destination on Long Island. What a great tool to have. I made my appointment on time and had a great call. My next few stops were all on Long Island and the GPS system made finding them all quite easy.
My day was a success and I survived day one. So often I am trying to read a map and drive at the same time. I also have used the internet mapping program as a backup, yet here too you have to read while driving.
The neat thing about the GPS is that it gives you directions verbally while you drive. If there is traffic up ahead it gives you notice to make other plans. If you miss your turn or can’t get over in traffic the GPS recalculates and works to get you back on track to find your destination.
Success in business is much the same. You have to use your internal GPS system to know how to get from point A to Point B. You have to have a strategy or better yet an intention to succeed. You have to plan, execute and recalculate if things don’t come together as planned. Tools like GPS are wonderful new technologies to use. They make the effort all effortless. Yet, without careful planning and a direction in mind, GPS can take you anyplace but where you need to go. My experience has been you have to have a destination in mind before you make your trip. I visualize my trips, my business and my success everyday. I use the tools available to help me with my success. You can as well. Now, if they can only give a bit more notice on the GPS when I am in the fast lane to slow down because the off ramp is coming up on the right in .02 miles
Monday, March 31, 2008
The Third Spot
Over the weekend I attended a design and marketing show put on by one of my customers in Denver, Colorado. They had world renowned flower expert J Schwanke present a wedding program for over three hundred customers. J is the driving force behind JTV, which is a web site that features a different weekly webisode about floral design for the floral professional and floral enthusiast. This concept recently morphed into a bigger more expansive creative forum called ubloom, www.ubloom.com.
The idea behind ubloom is to expand and cross pollinate creativity in floral, craft and special events. J has gathered friends and experts in these other areas to create a community that is hungry to share information and knowledge. I always look for a “nugget” to take way from these types of presentations and J gave several on this occasion.
The idea of The Third Spot struck me as something I not heard of before. J spoke about, “Work is where you have to be. Home is where you want to be.
And, The Third Spot is a place that you want to hang out”
J used the Starbucks model as an example. His local Starbucks has a Barista who greets him every morning with his favorite drink, made to his specifications. The Barista puts J’s name on the cup so he feels like it’s his place. The chairs invite him to hang out. The music makes him remember a happy time in his life. The community bulletin board lets him know what is happening in his community. The Third Spot is replicated in places like Borders and Barnes and Noble. They each have coffee vendors inviting you to relax, enjoy your favorite beverage, brose and hang out. These places create a lifestyle setting that many fast food restaurants are trying to replicate.
Could The Third Spot idea be an idea to fulfill a need for your customers to hang out in your place of business? Could you upscale the coffee and drinks inviting your customer to enjoy their shopping experience? Could you create a lending library of the latest books and magazines on business, design, marketing? Is there an opportunity to have DVD’s or books on tape that your customer could barrow to educate their staff? Do you offer a community exchange board for notices, meetings and information? The Third Spot is an interesting concept that could create added value and a place for your customers to meet, share ideas and want to spend more time in your place rather than the competition.
The idea behind ubloom is to expand and cross pollinate creativity in floral, craft and special events. J has gathered friends and experts in these other areas to create a community that is hungry to share information and knowledge. I always look for a “nugget” to take way from these types of presentations and J gave several on this occasion.
The idea of The Third Spot struck me as something I not heard of before. J spoke about, “Work is where you have to be. Home is where you want to be.
And, The Third Spot is a place that you want to hang out”
J used the Starbucks model as an example. His local Starbucks has a Barista who greets him every morning with his favorite drink, made to his specifications. The Barista puts J’s name on the cup so he feels like it’s his place. The chairs invite him to hang out. The music makes him remember a happy time in his life. The community bulletin board lets him know what is happening in his community. The Third Spot is replicated in places like Borders and Barnes and Noble. They each have coffee vendors inviting you to relax, enjoy your favorite beverage, brose and hang out. These places create a lifestyle setting that many fast food restaurants are trying to replicate.
Could The Third Spot idea be an idea to fulfill a need for your customers to hang out in your place of business? Could you upscale the coffee and drinks inviting your customer to enjoy their shopping experience? Could you create a lending library of the latest books and magazines on business, design, marketing? Is there an opportunity to have DVD’s or books on tape that your customer could barrow to educate their staff? Do you offer a community exchange board for notices, meetings and information? The Third Spot is an interesting concept that could create added value and a place for your customers to meet, share ideas and want to spend more time in your place rather than the competition.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Toastmaters prepared me to caucus
In this season of politics, primaries and choosing a president, I had my first opportunity to participate in my states caucus. It was an interesting process to be a part of. Most of the people in my precinct had never participated in a caucus and because of this it was new and exciting. There was a constant flow of folks registering to participate. The turn out was far greater than expected. Was this because the slate of candidates this time around? Was it the opportunity to have a greater say in the election process? Was it all of the above and more?
My reason for attending was to cast my vote and to speak on behalf of a friend of mine who is running for one of our states house-district seats. He had asked if I would introduce him in my precinct since I am active in our town’s civic and service groups. I was honored to be asked to do this and looking forward to sharing my enthusiasm for my friend and his candidacy.
The caucus chairperson asked if anyone would like to speak on behalf of any of the candidates running for our parties ticket. My friend was going to start the evening at his precinct and he would be over at our caucus as soon as he could make it. All the speakers for the national candidates had their say. My friend was no where in sight. My nerves were on edge since I had only prepared an introduction, not a speech.
My cell phone buzzed just then and I answered. My friend apologized for not being at my caucus yet and said his precinct had so many people showing up that they were still registering folks and they were running way behind. My friend asked if I won’t mind just presenting for him with some kind words. “Sure, not a problem,” I said and hung up.
The Caucus Chairperson asked if anyone else would like to speak on behalf of a candidate? I took a deep breath, smiled at my wife and jumped up from where I was seated. The Chairperson stated I had two to three minutes. The light bulb went on and I thought, Table Topics. Cool. I can handle this. Even though I had only prepared an introduction, my Toastmaster skills kicked in. I opened my remarks with what I had planned as the introduction and then I enhanced my speech with a personal story about my friend and an experience he had while campaigning.
I looked into the eyes of the audience members. I felt my message about my friend was connecting. The audience seemed engaged and several people smiled back as I spoke. I had no notes and spoke from the heart. It was about “yellow card” time so I wrapped up my thoughts and said, thank you. I was given a round of applause. Wow! I had done it. Because of my Table Topics skills, I was confident and concise in my presentation. Toastmasters had saved the day for me and I hope garnered some votes for my friend.
After the caucus several people came up to me and asked about the Toastmaster’s club my friend and I attend since I had said, we both enjoyed practicing our speaking skills. This experience actually turned out to be an opportunity to invite several people to join our clubs meeting that week. Who knows, perhaps we’ll gain a new member or two.
For more information on the Chamber Ad-Liborators Club #770817 Broomfield, Colorado http://chamberadlib.freetoasthost.info/
My reason for attending was to cast my vote and to speak on behalf of a friend of mine who is running for one of our states house-district seats. He had asked if I would introduce him in my precinct since I am active in our town’s civic and service groups. I was honored to be asked to do this and looking forward to sharing my enthusiasm for my friend and his candidacy.
The caucus chairperson asked if anyone would like to speak on behalf of any of the candidates running for our parties ticket. My friend was going to start the evening at his precinct and he would be over at our caucus as soon as he could make it. All the speakers for the national candidates had their say. My friend was no where in sight. My nerves were on edge since I had only prepared an introduction, not a speech.
My cell phone buzzed just then and I answered. My friend apologized for not being at my caucus yet and said his precinct had so many people showing up that they were still registering folks and they were running way behind. My friend asked if I won’t mind just presenting for him with some kind words. “Sure, not a problem,” I said and hung up.
The Caucus Chairperson asked if anyone else would like to speak on behalf of a candidate? I took a deep breath, smiled at my wife and jumped up from where I was seated. The Chairperson stated I had two to three minutes. The light bulb went on and I thought, Table Topics. Cool. I can handle this. Even though I had only prepared an introduction, my Toastmaster skills kicked in. I opened my remarks with what I had planned as the introduction and then I enhanced my speech with a personal story about my friend and an experience he had while campaigning.
I looked into the eyes of the audience members. I felt my message about my friend was connecting. The audience seemed engaged and several people smiled back as I spoke. I had no notes and spoke from the heart. It was about “yellow card” time so I wrapped up my thoughts and said, thank you. I was given a round of applause. Wow! I had done it. Because of my Table Topics skills, I was confident and concise in my presentation. Toastmasters had saved the day for me and I hope garnered some votes for my friend.
After the caucus several people came up to me and asked about the Toastmaster’s club my friend and I attend since I had said, we both enjoyed practicing our speaking skills. This experience actually turned out to be an opportunity to invite several people to join our clubs meeting that week. Who knows, perhaps we’ll gain a new member or two.
For more information on the Chamber Ad-Liborators Club #770817 Broomfield, Colorado http://chamberadlib.freetoasthost.info/
Monday, February 4, 2008
Giving is better than receiving.
March 17th - St. Patrick’s Day is the date of my coming into this world. It’s a fun day to celebrate. I can walk into any pub and announce, “It’s my Birthday” and the out come the cheers and the complimentary adult beverages. What a great day to be born. Several years ago I wanted to do something memorable on my Birthday. I was listening to a local radio personality in Denver by the name of Pete Boyles. He was talking about an event to be held at a Fado’s Irish Pub called St. Baldrick’s Day.
The name was so intriguing that I went on line and looked up St. Baldrick’s. I learned that the idea for the name came about when three reinsurance executives turned their industry's St. Patrick's Day party into a benefit for kids with cancer. In 1999, Tim Kenny challenged friends, John Bender and Enda McDonnell to find a way to give back to society. John suggested shaving Enda's head since kids typically lose their hair during cancer treatment. "People will gladly pay to see you bald, Enda!" Never one to miss an opportunity, Enda replied, "I will if you will," and St. Baldrick's was born.
I thought, if these guys could raise money for finding a cure to eradicate childhood cancer so could I. It was just the event I was looking for to make my Birthday memorable. Besides, hair grows back. I signed up for the event and started asking for donations for this wonderful cause. That first year I did not know what to expect. I arrived first thing in the morning at 6:00am. The volunteers were setting up and Pete Boyles was doing a live broadcast from the pub. There was a lot of excitement in the air. I still wasn’t sure if I wanted to go through with it. I figured if I went first and got it over with it would be OK. They asked for the first volunteer and up I jumped.
The volunteer barber gave me a smile, covered me with an apron and started to buzz off all my hair. As the small crowd hollered with approval I had started laughing like crazy. It was all over in a few minutes. I now knew how a sheep felt when it got sheared and boy was my head cold. The applause was great. Several other Shavees gave me high fives as I walked past them. I had raised my first $500.00 for St. Baldrick’s. I was hooked. The most marvelous part of the event was when I meet several kid’s who had joined the festivities that had their cancer in remission. They came to thank everyone for being at the event. I felt rewarded for having done something I knew could make a difference.
That first year I did the event for fun. The following year I shaved my head in honor of the daughter of a friend of mine who was diagnosed with leukemia. St. Baldrick’s became more personal now. That year I shaved my head with a buddy and again it was a rewarding experience. I shared my experience with another friend in New Jersey and he was so intrigued he has started an event in his home town. It’s amazing how a small dare has grown into a major fundraising event to help a disease that should never have been.
Since the first event in 2000, St. Baldrick's volunteers have raised over $34 million for life-saving research and 2008 promises even more exciting progress. Every child, teen, and family deserves our very best effort to cure childhood cancer, and that's just what they'll get from the St. Baldrick's community!
I look forward to doing my part this year. Raising money and awareness to find a cure, help a kid and ease a families burden. So as your raising a toast to the honorable St. Patrick this year, why not make a donation to St. Baldrick’s Foundation. For the price of a six pack you can make a contribution.
Here is the website to donate. http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.html?ParticipantKey=200821087
Thank you.
The name was so intriguing that I went on line and looked up St. Baldrick’s. I learned that the idea for the name came about when three reinsurance executives turned their industry's St. Patrick's Day party into a benefit for kids with cancer. In 1999, Tim Kenny challenged friends, John Bender and Enda McDonnell to find a way to give back to society. John suggested shaving Enda's head since kids typically lose their hair during cancer treatment. "People will gladly pay to see you bald, Enda!" Never one to miss an opportunity, Enda replied, "I will if you will," and St. Baldrick's was born.
I thought, if these guys could raise money for finding a cure to eradicate childhood cancer so could I. It was just the event I was looking for to make my Birthday memorable. Besides, hair grows back. I signed up for the event and started asking for donations for this wonderful cause. That first year I did not know what to expect. I arrived first thing in the morning at 6:00am. The volunteers were setting up and Pete Boyles was doing a live broadcast from the pub. There was a lot of excitement in the air. I still wasn’t sure if I wanted to go through with it. I figured if I went first and got it over with it would be OK. They asked for the first volunteer and up I jumped.
The volunteer barber gave me a smile, covered me with an apron and started to buzz off all my hair. As the small crowd hollered with approval I had started laughing like crazy. It was all over in a few minutes. I now knew how a sheep felt when it got sheared and boy was my head cold. The applause was great. Several other Shavees gave me high fives as I walked past them. I had raised my first $500.00 for St. Baldrick’s. I was hooked. The most marvelous part of the event was when I meet several kid’s who had joined the festivities that had their cancer in remission. They came to thank everyone for being at the event. I felt rewarded for having done something I knew could make a difference.
That first year I did the event for fun. The following year I shaved my head in honor of the daughter of a friend of mine who was diagnosed with leukemia. St. Baldrick’s became more personal now. That year I shaved my head with a buddy and again it was a rewarding experience. I shared my experience with another friend in New Jersey and he was so intrigued he has started an event in his home town. It’s amazing how a small dare has grown into a major fundraising event to help a disease that should never have been.
Since the first event in 2000, St. Baldrick's volunteers have raised over $34 million for life-saving research and 2008 promises even more exciting progress. Every child, teen, and family deserves our very best effort to cure childhood cancer, and that's just what they'll get from the St. Baldrick's community!
I look forward to doing my part this year. Raising money and awareness to find a cure, help a kid and ease a families burden. So as your raising a toast to the honorable St. Patrick this year, why not make a donation to St. Baldrick’s Foundation. For the price of a six pack you can make a contribution.
Here is the website to donate. http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.html?ParticipantKey=200821087
Thank you.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Service in America
Recently I went to purchase a new audio receiver. My old unit had quit working after 15 years. Having the need for good music in my house I set off on a quest to find the perfect audio receiver which would accommodate my needs. My first stop was a national chain. There was the brand I wanted. There were several models to choose from. I wanted one that would hook up to all my components including a turntable. Yes, a turntable. I have the MP3 player, but my records still sound warmer to me. I read the information on the signs posted on the shelf, yet nothing stated that a turntable could be hooked up. I looked around for a sales person and they were all busy with other customers. I waited and waited. After about 30 minutes I was at my threshold and I left. I never was approached by any salesperson at all. In fact no employee ever acknowledged my presence.
I went next door to a regional chain that I had purchased from before. I found the audio area yet not the brand I was looking for. A young man came up and asked if he could be of any assistance. I told him what I was looking for. He did something not too many salespeople know to do. He asked me questions. What a breath of fresh air. How will you use your system? Will you need to hook it up as a home theater unit? What components do you have? All probing questions that allowed me to tell the salesperson what I wanted to buy, not what he might have wanted to sell.
The salesman then suggested a receiver based on my needs and price range. After about 20 minutes of discussion I was ready to buy. He convinced me that this was the one receiver that would fit my needs. It would fit in the furniture I have. It would fit in my budget. It would accommodate my turntable. The salesman had me wanting the receiver so bad I could taste it. Give it to me now, so I can go and listen to it, I thought. The salesman checked… and checked and told me, “I sorry sir we are out of stock on that Model. I can have it for you in a day or two from one of our other stores.” I was deflated like the kid who just received an ice cream cone and licked off the scoop. “No, I want it now. Why should I wait”?, I thought. "There are other stores. I can’t wait I’m an American consumer." So I took the poor salesman’s business card and said I would be back if I could not find the model he had convinced me I needed to have. I felt bad for the poor fellow, yet I thought, why didn’t he check his stock before we had the discussion and I was so fully engaged?
Finally, I went to the specialist in the area. Usually the specialist is perceived as the most expensive. The guy you go to if you have more money than time and the guy who knows it all. I walked in expecting to pay more and get less because of the high end repetition of this specialist. I knew I would get quality but at a price. I was promptly greeted by a salesperson who again asked questions. Before we got too involved I asked, “Do you have in stock everything you may show me?” Curious he said, “Why yes we do, why else would I sell you something I don’t have”. Right answer, at least for me this time. I said to proceed and he sold me the same model the previous fellow sold me. Five minutes later I was out the door and shortly after that I was enjoying clear, crisp sound from my new receiver.
Moral of the story:
Not even acknowledging me in your store, I am not coming back.
Selling me something you don’t have in stock is wasting both of our time.
Asking questions and being able to back them up, will make the prospect a happy camper and a customer for life. The American consumer, of which I am one is inpatient, demanding and has little time to waste. Those that can play the instant gratification game will come out the winner.
I went next door to a regional chain that I had purchased from before. I found the audio area yet not the brand I was looking for. A young man came up and asked if he could be of any assistance. I told him what I was looking for. He did something not too many salespeople know to do. He asked me questions. What a breath of fresh air. How will you use your system? Will you need to hook it up as a home theater unit? What components do you have? All probing questions that allowed me to tell the salesperson what I wanted to buy, not what he might have wanted to sell.
The salesman then suggested a receiver based on my needs and price range. After about 20 minutes of discussion I was ready to buy. He convinced me that this was the one receiver that would fit my needs. It would fit in the furniture I have. It would fit in my budget. It would accommodate my turntable. The salesman had me wanting the receiver so bad I could taste it. Give it to me now, so I can go and listen to it, I thought. The salesman checked… and checked and told me, “I sorry sir we are out of stock on that Model. I can have it for you in a day or two from one of our other stores.” I was deflated like the kid who just received an ice cream cone and licked off the scoop. “No, I want it now. Why should I wait”?, I thought. "There are other stores. I can’t wait I’m an American consumer." So I took the poor salesman’s business card and said I would be back if I could not find the model he had convinced me I needed to have. I felt bad for the poor fellow, yet I thought, why didn’t he check his stock before we had the discussion and I was so fully engaged?
Finally, I went to the specialist in the area. Usually the specialist is perceived as the most expensive. The guy you go to if you have more money than time and the guy who knows it all. I walked in expecting to pay more and get less because of the high end repetition of this specialist. I knew I would get quality but at a price. I was promptly greeted by a salesperson who again asked questions. Before we got too involved I asked, “Do you have in stock everything you may show me?” Curious he said, “Why yes we do, why else would I sell you something I don’t have”. Right answer, at least for me this time. I said to proceed and he sold me the same model the previous fellow sold me. Five minutes later I was out the door and shortly after that I was enjoying clear, crisp sound from my new receiver.
Moral of the story:
Not even acknowledging me in your store, I am not coming back.
Selling me something you don’t have in stock is wasting both of our time.
Asking questions and being able to back them up, will make the prospect a happy camper and a customer for life. The American consumer, of which I am one is inpatient, demanding and has little time to waste. Those that can play the instant gratification game will come out the winner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)