Free Life Coaching – A Decision

Many years ago I was working for Yellow Pages. I was in a printers chatting with the owner when a well dressed guy came in to collect some printing he’d had done. I saw he’d hopped out of a car that was probably worth more than my house and it was obvious he had money, a lot of money

When the owner went into the back to get his posters I started talking to him and asked him where he worked. To cut a long story, he owned one of the largest stationary supplies business’s in the country that was based close by.

Wow I thought, he must have an advertising budget that ran into the millions, he could help me hit an entire campaigns target in one day!

I requested an appointment and he politely refused saying he didn’t think Yellow Pages could help his business. This was over a decade ago when people still used yellow Pages and I knew differently, so I persisted.

As a compromise he gave me a business card and told me to ring him when the main Birmingham books were due to be published and he’s see what he could do then.

I don’t know how many times I tried to get hold of him over the following weeks, but it was a lot. He was frequently traveling on business, out of the office or unable to be reached. Or so I was told.

Finally, I had one last roll of the dice. I ordered a full page, full color advertisement with his company logo and products on mocked up by our art department as though it were a real ad they had bought.

When I got the ad, I cut it out and carefully fixed in on a page in the middle of all his competitors. It looked amazing and blew everything around it out of sight.

However, as I couldn’t get an appointment with the guy I had to think of some other way of delivering it. So I gift wrapped it as a present and put a bow on it. I then stopped by his office and told the receptionist I had a gift that I must present to his secretary personally.

When I got to see the secretary I asked to see her boss, but was told he was out. I was pretty sure they were being honest with me so I had to reluctantly leave it.

I’d love to tell you I got a phone call, sold the advert and a load more and get fabulously wealthy. The fact is though, I didn’t sell it, I never even got to talk to the man again, such is the vagaries of a life in sales.

However, I knew I’d done all within my power and done everything I could to show him what was in it for him if he bought from me.

This is a really difficult post to write and I know I’m going to take some flak for it, but it is what it is and I’ll deal with that if and when it happens.

I know anybody that read the previous post thoroughly and understands what I was driving at, will appreciate the reasons I have decided to retract my offer.

I offered 6 months free life coaching and other assorted stuff to one person. I was prepared to help them get to a position where they were well on their way to a Rich and Happy life.

I’ve had dozens of replies which is why I know I’m going to annoy some people, especially as there were over 10 applicants who I know fairly well and 3 ex-clients!

Let me be honest here and say that many of the responses were less than earth shattering. I had at least 10 people who simply asked to be included with no details as to why, even though I clearly stated what I wanted!

I did have a lot of people telling me what I could do for them, but not one that told me explicitly what they could do for me!

You may be thinking I’ve now officially lost my mind. After all, I was offering help to you, not asking for you to help me, but hear my out.

As I said in the original post;

“I want somebody that will do whatever it takes, somebody that likes the thought of kicking down doors, walking through walls and ignoring gatekeepers.”

I had no examples that made me think “Yeh, this person is really up for it, this is going to be so much fun working with her, because she’ll do anything to get the job done and we’re going to have so much fun”

And by that I don’t mean nobody seemed excited. A few people came across as though they were very excited, but if all you needed is excitement to get where you want to be, everybody would be living the life of their dreams.

So there you have it, the offer for free life coaching is now an ex-offer.