the panhadler’s secret

March 9th, 2009

This is a great story that I came across that should give you some insight on how to better sell yourself…

When there were old-school parking meters in New York, quarters were precious.

One day, I’m walking down the street and a guy comes up to me and says, “Do you have a dollar for four quarters?”  He held out his hand with four quarters in it.

Curious, I engaged with him.  I took out a dollar bill and took the four quarters.

Then he turned to me and said, ”can you spare a quarter?”

What a fascinating interaction.  First, he engaged me.  A fair trade, one that perhaps even benefited me, not him.

Now, we have a relationship.  Now, he knows I have a quarter (in my hand, even).  So his next request is much more difficult to turn down.

If he had just walked up to me and said, “can you spare a quarter,” he would have been invisible.

Too often, we close the sale before we even open it.

Interact first, sell second!

Entry Filed under: Think About It!