Michele 1 #1 January 29, 2003 At our office meeting this morning, there is this sales "guru" guy pumping us up to sign up for his sales technique class. He talks and struts around, slick as a duck in oily water. Shiny shoes, hair sprayed so well that it reminded me of the hair helmet in the 60's. Rolex watch, expensive suit, understated cufflinks. About halfway through his 45 minute spiel, I leave to go make a phone call which simply couldn't wait any longer...and when I come back, it is almost as if I hadn't gone - same thing, different minute. So, being bored, I go into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee (if I had to deal with that much energy so early in the morning, I needed some fortification...). There I am standing at the coffee pot, eyeing the cinnamon rolls, when I hear him boom out (yes, he was on a walkie-mike): "Commitment! Lemme tell you about commitment. What is commitment? I'll tell you. Skydiving. That's commitment. Once you're out of the plane, you can't go back, right?" I walk out of the kitchen, coffee cup in my hand, grinning broadly. Everyone in the office is looking at me, and he looks at me too, seeing his audience distracted. He looks me up and down, sizing me up, all the while telling me about commitment. He wants us to sign up for his course. He's hitting cost and how it's not that much for the amount of stuff you learn. He's rattling off how, if you make the commitment, the avenue to achieve it will show up - it will happen, but only if you take that first step...blah, yada, etc. So after the meeting (which had all the qualities of a tent revival), he's flocked by realtors who're interested in his techniques. Obviously he's sold them...and yes, I'll admit, I'm a little interested. O.K., some of it seems really interesting. But I'm also put off a bit, too; a whuffo talking to whuffos about commitment and using skydiving as the example. It's a great example...but only if you know what you're talking about. The crowd thins out, and I walk up. I hand him what appears to be a business card - but it's not. It's my USPA license. "You ever jumped?" says me.. "Uh, no. But I've always been interested. Do you?" "Yeppers. That's what the card means." "Oh. "(Long pause while he again checks me out, jeans and a sweater, chubby and closer to 40 years old than 30...). He sees my broker behind me. Denis has crept up to hear this - he knows me, and wonders what will happen next. "So," says he, "wanna take the 2-day event?" "I haven't got the available cash. But maybe I will make the commitment and see what happens." "What will it take for you to come to the class and learn how to sell the right way all the time?" Smiling, I look at him square in the face. "I'm jumping next Monday. You do a tandem on February 3 when I'm jumping - same plane as me at Elsinore, and I will take your class." "I'd like a commitment first," he replies. "I'd like to see you walk the walk, my friend...and then perhaps your talk will be heard by me." See, now I'm the fish that's getting away. I'm the goal he's set. I can see the gears shifting. My broker stifles a laugh. He can't believe it. But sell a salesman? Motivate a motivator? Sure, why not? I mean, I know about commitment. Does the salesman? He ponders. You can really see him considering this. "O.K., I'll see what my schedule's like. Monday, you say?" "Last load sometime around 4ish. Be there about 3. It'll change your life. Are you ready to change?" I grin, and, taking back my USPA license, and handing him a card, I add, "e-mail me here. And if you spam me, I will not come to your class." I turn and walk back to my desk, grinning the entire time. We shall see what we shall see. Will he walk the walk? Or is he just talking the talk? (And btw, my broker offered to pay for the seminar for me if he jumps. He's curious to see if I can sell the sky to a consumate salesman...). I'll let you know...personally, I will be very surprised if he does. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverbrian 0 #2 January 29, 2003 Good luck Michele. My $5 says he runs away. But I kinda hope he doesn't cuz it'll be an even more awesome story if he decides to jump! In a world full of people, only some want to fly... isn't that crazy! --Seal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladyskydiver 0 #3 January 29, 2003 roflmao!!!! You go, girl!!! Keep us in the loop if he decides to jump or not.Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blewaway5 0 #4 January 29, 2003 HAHAHAHAHA!! I love this! You absolutely have got to let us know the outcome here. I'm with you, I'll be surprised if he shows up, but hey, you never can tell. Truman Sparks for President Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DivinDon 0 #5 January 29, 2003 Way to sell that tandem jump very nice Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #6 January 29, 2003 THIS one I really like. Make sure you get a jump ticket for the tandem referral!quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newshooter12 0 #7 January 29, 2003 Sweet... Let's see if he does it or says, "uhhh... sorry I had something come up." I want to here the end/rest of this story.matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,587 #8 January 29, 2003 You rock, Michele! Let's hope he does it! If nothing else, your agent sees you with new eyes, too, doesn't he? Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jceman 1 #9 January 29, 2003 That faint sound you hear, Michele, is applause wafting your way from way over here on the east coast. Good job. You grew real well today in many ways, even if the super salesman waffles out of the tandem. Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money. Why do they call it "Tourist Season" if we can't shoot them? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooked 0 #10 January 29, 2003 We are all going to be waiting to hear the outcome of this one!!! Will he or won't he? Personally, I hope he does just so we all can hear the story on his first jump! My guess is, maybe he won't show. Way to go, MicheleJ -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #11 January 29, 2003 Hell woman! I'd buy a house from you on that story alone! YOU GO! GIRL!!! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #12 January 29, 2003 LOL, it was funny, and I didn't stop thinking about telling you guys this all day. Kept me giggling during a long and tiresome day. His 31 y/o nephew was his assistant today, and has tandem-jumped before. The nephew is saying he'll come...but you know what, I don't think either of them will. I will be very surprised if either of them show up, or, if they show up, make a jump. Should be fascinating, to say the least. Rest assured I'll post the ending of this story, good, bad or indifferent. Yes, Jack, I learned tons today about human nature, and while I dunno if it deserves any applause, I thank you for that! And my broker is really seeing me in a different light. Dunno if that's good or bad, though... Too funny, all the way around. ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #13 January 29, 2003 Quote Too funny, all the way around. Absolutely too funny. Nothing like throwing his buzzwords right back in his face! My money's on him being "too booked up" to make it out there come Monday... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #14 January 29, 2003 Tell him "you're cheese has been moved, you must find more cheese." If he's truely up on his "group work, paradigm shift" buzz word stuff, he'll know what that is. You probably even know what I'm talking about, kinda hard to miss it if you've been in the business world the past few years.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ernokaikkonen 0 #15 January 29, 2003 That was absolutely brilliant! You know what the best part is? If he doesn't jump, everytime he does the same speech, he's going to have this small nagging voice in his head reminding him of something he said he'd do... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowbird 0 #16 January 29, 2003 Michele, that's priceless! You go girl! I can so imagine his expression... oh yeah. Hoist on his own petard... Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooked 0 #17 January 29, 2003 Quote That was absolutely brilliant! You know what the best part is? If he doesn't jump, everytime he does the same speech, he's going to have this small nagging voice in his head reminding him of something he said he'd do... That is so true! J -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jams 0 #18 January 29, 2003 Quotehe's going to have this small nagging voice in his head reminding him of something he said he'd do... yeah Michele, and that voice will be yours!!! great opportunity you took, now see how committed he is, but i think he'll show upm ~ a temporary reconfiguration of stardust Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #19 January 29, 2003 Rock on M'celle my money is on whoosin out but it was cool to hear you say "bring it on." QuoteTell him "you're cheese has been moved, you must find more cheese." If he's truely up on his "group work, paradigm shift" buzz word stuff, he'll know what that is. You probably even know what I'm talking about, kinda hard to miss it if you've been in the business world the past few years. actually dave your a few years behind for the whole 'cheese thing'..it was a decent concept if rodent labrynth type (thus the usefulness to corprate drones.) but it just didnt fly real well with the more predatory natures____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #20 January 29, 2003 You mean I'm not up to date on the corporate buzz word stuff? Damn, I'm broken hearted now... --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #22 January 29, 2003 Quote At our office meeting this morning, there is this sales "guru" guy pumping us up to sign up for his sales technique class. He talks and struts around, slick as a duck in oily water. Shiny shoes, hair sprayed so well that it reminded me of the hair helmet in the 60's. Rolex watch, expensive suit, understated cufflinks. About halfway through his 45 minute spiel, I leave to go make a phone call which simply couldn't wait any longer...and when I come back, it is almost as if I hadn't gone - same thing, different minute. So, being bored, I go into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee (if I had to deal with that much energy so early in the morning, I needed some fortification...). There I am standing at the coffee pot, eyeing the cinnamon rolls, when I hear him boom out (yes, he was on a walkie-mike): "Commitment! Lemme tell you about commitment. What is commitment? I'll tell you. Skydiving. That's commitment. Once you're out of the plane, you can't go back, right?" I walk out of the kitchen, coffee cup in my hand, grinning broadly. Everyone in the office is looking at me, and he looks at me too, seeing his audience distracted. He looks me up and down, sizing me up, all the while telling me about commitment. He wants us to sign up for his course. He's hitting cost and how it's not that much for the amount of stuff you learn. He's rattling off how, if you make the commitment, the avenue to achieve it will show up - it will happen, but only if you take that first step...blah, yada, etc. So after the meeting (which had all the qualities of a tent revival), he's flocked by realtors who're interested in his techniques. Obviously he's sold them...and yes, I'll admit, I'm a little interested. O.K., some of it seems really interesting. But I'm also put off a bit, too; a whuffo talking to whuffos about commitment and using skydiving as the example. It's a great example...but only if you know what you're talking about. The crowd thins out, and I walk up. I hand him what appears to be a business card - but it's not. It's my USPA license. "You ever jumped?" says me.. "Uh, no. But I've always been interested. Do you?" "Yeppers. That's what the card means." "Oh. "(Long pause while he again checks me out, jeans and a sweater, chubby and closer to 40 years old than 30...). He sees my broker behind me. Denis has crept up to hear this - he knows me, and wonders what will happen next. "So," says he, "wanna take the 2-day event?" "I haven't got the available cash. But maybe I will make the commitment and see what happens." "What will it take for you to come to the class and learn how to sell the right way all the time?" Smiling, I look at him square in the face. "I'm jumping next Monday. You do a tandem on February 3 when I'm jumping - same plane as me at Elsinore, and I will take your class." "I'd like a commitment first," he replies. "I'd like to see you walk the walk, my friend...and then perhaps your talk will be heard by me." See, now I'm the fish that's getting away. I'm the goal he's set. I can see the gears shifting. My broker stifles a laugh. He can't believe it. But sell a salesman? Motivate a motivator? Sure, why not? I mean, I know about commitment. Does the salesman? He ponders. You can really see him considering this. "O.K., I'll see what my schedule's like. Monday, you say?" "Last load sometime around 4ish. Be there about 3. It'll change your life. Are you ready to change?" I grin, and, taking back my USPA license, and handing him a card, I add, "e-mail me here. And if you spam me, I will not come to your class." I turn and walk back to my desk, grinning the entire time. We shall see what we shall see. Will he walk the walk? Or is he just talking the talk? (And btw, my broker offered to pay for the seminar for me if he jumps. He's curious to see if I can sell the sky to a consumate salesman...). I'll let you know...personally, I will be very surprised if he does. Ciels- Michele YOURE too fukn cool Miche~ I am overcome with laughter right now! i alwaysa wanted to find some asshole prick who thinks too highly of himself and crush him like that! problem is I usually tell them to fuck off instead!My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumpster 0 #23 January 29, 2003 Beautiful. Absolutely Beautiful! My money is on him not showing. Whne he says "let me see what my schedule looks like" , well, My bet is he'll have something. My reply when someone gave me that (when I was in sales-) was something like, "Let's get our Dayrunners out and make it happen". But I can't wait to hear the outcome! Rock On, Michelle! Easy Does It Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #24 January 29, 2003 Go get him girl! -- Hot Mama At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbarnhouse 0 #25 January 29, 2003 Miche~ I'm laughing my a$$ off. You go girlie! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
