I received a prospecting phone call from a telephone service company last week. The guy made a solid “results” approach, offering to reduce our telephone costs 20% to 40%. While that sounded attractive, I told him we are locked into a contract with our phone company. He said, “OK, thanks” and terminated the call. I felt relieved. “OK, got rid of THAT guy, let’s see what’s next on my ‘to do’ list for the day.”
“Hey, Rob! Are you receiving my Weekly Sales Thought every week?”
One of six moments in my life I’d like to have back. (I’m not telling what the other five are. Don’t ask.) Sounds pretty benign EXCEPT (1) this was my opening question while meeting a prospective client in the hallway of a conference who was (2) already engaged in conversation with my friend, David, and (3) backpedaling because I had launched myself ‘round a corner into the hall like a SWAT-team. “Freeze! Everybody DOWN! Put your hands UP!”
On my way home from a city that shall remain nameless, I drove through the airport looking for access to the gas station from whose cool, subterranean tanks I needed fuel. I was feeling lucky. No traffic in front of me. Still time to fill the tank and make the plane. Down the approach to the terminals, up the ramp to the “departures” level, left turn at the top of the ramp. Whoops.
8:30 pm Saturday night. With brief clatter, wine glass met table as our server, John, who only moments before had greeted us warmly at our table, expressed his irritation with our small dinner order, about half the ticket he might have expected from three adults. We’d come in from a very full, long day, hungry, and wanting to finish the day with a light meal in a restaurant we like and patronize 8 – 10 times a year. Only now, we were the ones being patronized.
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