If you don't ask......they can't say yes.
It seems so simple to me. It's true in any type of business or negotiation. I learned it at a young age and have never forgot it. Many people have not. A recent real life example.
My daughter was participating in a car wash fundraiser. My intent was to drop her off and go home. We arrived at the appointed time. Everything was ready. There were adults and teenagers with sponges, buckets, hoses, soap, etc. There were signs advertising "car wash" posted, even a few girls holding signs in the supermarket parking lot. Everything was set, but there was one problem...............no customers. I stood around 2-3 minutes watching as everyone looked at each other. Then I began talking to people as they walked out of the store. "Would you like your car washed sir?" For the next 3 hours I walked around that parking lot asking people if they wanted their car washed. Many said yes. The suggested donation was $5 and $385 was raised in 3 hours. Now this is far from fastlane on my part. I would have been alot better off to spend that time selling houses and make a donation. But, thats not how it played out.
The experience got me thinking. I told several people afterwards "If you don't ask, they can't say yes." Its true. In the process I horrified my teenage daughter, which is easy to do. I also impressed several people. I heard several comments to the effect of " he could sell ice to eskimoes." No I couldn't. I guess the point is that I did something unusual. I asked for business. And you know what- I got it!
This is not new information for me, but the carwash reinforced a simple truth in business. That 3 hours was probably better spent than I initially thought.
It seems so simple to me. It's true in any type of business or negotiation. I learned it at a young age and have never forgot it. Many people have not. A recent real life example.
My daughter was participating in a car wash fundraiser. My intent was to drop her off and go home. We arrived at the appointed time. Everything was ready. There were adults and teenagers with sponges, buckets, hoses, soap, etc. There were signs advertising "car wash" posted, even a few girls holding signs in the supermarket parking lot. Everything was set, but there was one problem...............no customers. I stood around 2-3 minutes watching as everyone looked at each other. Then I began talking to people as they walked out of the store. "Would you like your car washed sir?" For the next 3 hours I walked around that parking lot asking people if they wanted their car washed. Many said yes. The suggested donation was $5 and $385 was raised in 3 hours. Now this is far from fastlane on my part. I would have been alot better off to spend that time selling houses and make a donation. But, thats not how it played out.
The experience got me thinking. I told several people afterwards "If you don't ask, they can't say yes." Its true. In the process I horrified my teenage daughter, which is easy to do. I also impressed several people. I heard several comments to the effect of " he could sell ice to eskimoes." No I couldn't. I guess the point is that I did something unusual. I asked for business. And you know what- I got it!
This is not new information for me, but the carwash reinforced a simple truth in business. That 3 hours was probably better spent than I initially thought.
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