Part time jobs which paid squat, led me to thousands of dollars.
 

As I rock away...

Part time work. I've had scores of them. Today, I focus on the why of a few of them.

Companies I worked for include the Akron Auto Auction, Adesa Auto Auction, and American Auto Drive...a fun one.

If you've ever been to an auto auction, they pull the cars in every few minutes and the bidding is fast and furious, and over fast, car leaves, next one in.

I was one of the guys driving those cars. Did that at both auction houses, only like once a week, but the reason wasn't for the wonderful minimum wage...but to get a first peek, a look at what was up for auction that week. So my brother and I had a plan.

In addition to the on site driving during auction day, at Akron Auto, I also was part of a fleet team. We loaded a van up with 10 to 12 guys, drove to NY, NJ area and each driver was dropped off at a car to bring back to Akron. These cars were part of a fleet leasing program. For example, maybe a company like
Progressive had leased a fleet for it's New York sales force, and the lease was up.

So whichever auction house they worked with, would recover these and drive them back. It was cheaper than trying to bring them to one locale and put on trucks, that was very expensive.

Again, the pay wasn't the thing, it was because we knew fleets were well maintained, and even with 200k on the car, minimum parts and replacements and they went at auction for well under blue book.

My most exciting job as a driver, I drove a Pontiac Trans Am like the one in Smoky and the Bandit, from LA to NYC in 3 days, no speed records, of course, but there were times I let it all out.

I actually did that several times when I was young, stupid and traveling.

I liked to drive back then.

Anyhow, as I rock back to nostalgia times...my point was/is...part time gigs, even at minimum wage can give you insights and education into industries, nothing like being an INSIDER.

So, we flipped cars for several years, and I adhere to the principle I wrote about in Sprint to Freedom...buy over there, sell over here. Even the big Auto Auctions use the same principle. Just an opinion, everyone should flip at least one or two cars a year, and it is dirt simple too...BIG DEMAND, and unlimited (mostly) supply. Some very rich guys in USA happen to be auto dealers.

Speaking of driving, other jobs I've had: Driving instructor for SEARS E-Z METHOD, specializing in teens and old people (cause they were the hardest and no one else wanted them).

Jewelry courier. In fact, courier in general, worked for 3 different courier companies, amazing what needs to be taken down the road NOW!

I had a friend work in a Wendy's part-time for a year, THEN, he became a manager, regional and then a co-owner, and part of business that had scores of fast food chains under their roof. From minimum wage, to 100k a year.

So, if you have an interest in anything, consider working in that area to see the inner workings.

If I were younger, I'd be in TESLA, learning all I could.

Gordon

The moolah in front of our eyes...
 

So, driving around, what do you see?

Maybe blame ADD/ADHD, or bless it, I see everything. ON a 3/4 mile strip right down the road is Front St., downtown Cuyahoga Falls. At the North tip, two car dealerships, downtown thriving with restaurants, boutiques, and on the South side, more restaurants and shops and about to get even more.

I see the billboards at both ends of this stretch, I note who is running the ads. I see the new businesses going out of business and ask why?

Here is what I have seen in the last couple of years, during covid...two areas, Seasons Road in Stow, and Howe Rd. in Tallmadge/Kent...two huge companies have built 100,000 sq. ft. WAREHOUSES, at both locations, in fact, they have now a complex of combined of over 500 thousand sq ft...and most of that has already been leased.

What does that TELL you?

I would bet...NOTHING. See, we look at our world every day, and we don't ask the right questions.

Why are they building Warehouses now? What is the safety net for a Warehouse? It is one of the cheapest of all buildings to build with one of the most diverse use.

Why did Dollar Tree become Dollar and Quarter Tree? Why is that church for sale?

Again, maybe it is because I see everything, especially changes (I'm very good at recognizing when women have a new hair do, or their nails, and it makes me quite the charmer {when I want to be})...

But it is not only just seeing, it is being curious. Wondering why? What is going on?

If we could train ourselves to ask questions about our world, and what is going on it it, there would be no shortage of opportunity, and often it is just getting ahead of the curve.

But we often ignore the facts, what is happening, like I will say that if (when?) the Browns beat Miami 45 21, they are playoff bound. Maybe Super Bowl.

That is a case of seeing the facts, looking at something, and ignoring reality. To make some money, stay with what you see and make sure you are not wearing rose colored glasses.

What do you see in your neck of the woods? Anyone know some who got the Zuck's holiday news? This time of the year, we'll see many more thousands laid off...maybe one or two might want to know how to make some moolah online? Or off?

Gordon

You have 7 days to make a profit...
 

Several years ago, when I offered my brand of coaching, it was usually for a year.

Today, if anyone asked for my advice/counsel/motivation...I would simply tell them, you have 7 days to make a profit.

What would you do?

Well, that is a pretty wide cloth to cut from, eh? So, offline, you already know my answer, as it has been for decades now, SELL something you already have.

But, even if you did Kondo your household down to a spoon and knife and fork in an all in one camping tool...then you would have to go outside of your home and do something else.

ONLINE? 7 Days? PROFITS? YIKES!!!


Bet most of you know my answer to that too, right? HOTSHEETS.

I'm testing software like SketchWow; excalidraw, canva, pictodraw...we've talked about them before. I can use Canva.

But consider this: For $118 I could easily get the SketchWow product, and start a Fivver career on making HOTSHEETS, and include Infographic in the description. OR, hire a five dollar Fiverr. for a basic gig.

Totally FREE? (BUT time to learn) would be OpenOffice, and maybe a template or two.

Having a drag and drop, like SketchWow, would allow one to create quickly and have ready to go in no time.

A couple of years ago, I bought Barb Ling's HOTSHEET (She called it a cheatsheet, if I recall correctly), for around 4 dollars, it was reported she made over $1,000.00 in a day or two. NOT bad for a one piece of paper with nothing but links on it, is it?

Free or paid, no matter, most of my HOTSHEETS were created in a Document, and then played around with.

WHY would I want my 'student' to make a profit in 7 days? Because of the fast action from idea to cash.

See, I know for a fact.
A fact of life.

Absolute FACT, that majority overthink, over GOALIZE (wth??), and spend too much time getting all the ducks in the row before they fire off.

So, how to, or steps? What is needed?

Today, maybe spend two hours on WIX, watch a video tutorial and set up a free site.

FREE> how about DROPBOX, has made me thousands of dollars since it first came out, without ever an upgrade.
Free> Google Docs. Dien and I just discussed some BIG ticket promotions, like 20 thousand dollars a year, being sold via a Google Doc.

There are those who think they have to learn all sorts of things, but I couldn't or wouldn't work with them.

START.

Create a HOTSHEET. Post it up, somewhere...put a PAY button on it and there you have a product in force, and with just one or two sales, a PROFIT.

Now, if your HOTSHEET is some arcane subject, like The Ohio Valley Ghosts of Mrs. Saginaw, a modern thriller. Probably need the 3 ghost nerds who have ever heard of her in your marketing sights.

How to get FREE software to make money today, might find a bigger barrel to shoot into.

But what I would do with my 'student', is have them first provide an ASSESSMENT of skills, knowledge, experiences and from there, focus on a HOTSHEET which had the most back end potential.

7 Days to Profits, or leave me alone.

Questions? Comments? Always welcome.

Gordon

And this triggered this thought...
 

The 7 days to a profit, is a snowball thrown from the top, and it gathers speed and grows. Throw a snowball you've kept in cooler from the top of a sand dune on a summer's day, see what will happen.

I would rather throw it down a snow covered hill, than start at the bottom and try to climb up the hill.

What may be at the heart of this all, is a lack of appreciation for growing money, and doing so quickly.

Now, most of you know I've had several good and some really great mentors, and one of the "speed kills the competition" guys was Ben Suarez.

Ben struggled for 6 years on the edge of bankruptcy, trying to build his business, and then, all of a sudden, huge amounts of money came in quickly, tens of thousands of dollars a month. As fast as he could run ads.

And once he found speed, he never looked back.

Some of us, think and believe we too need to spend years of struggle with a zig zag, try this, then try that routine which drives many to the poor house.

The one piece of education for Entrepreneurs seemingly missing, is scaling up, reinvesting, growth, expansion...how to use the profits, no matter how small, to get more and more, bigger and bigger ones.

Anyhow, start small, work fast, build big.

https://blog.adioma.com/make-money-infographics/
Nice blog post on the step by step, good plan of action.

Gordon

Big P.S.

Around the time of this:
https://www.bmyers.com/public/166.cfm

And today, doing it without the expense of paper and ink, is still a pretty nifty template.

Anyhow, I was online and offering NEWSLETTER development services, mostly out of sight, behind the lines, and most of my early clients knew me from my work on the NPGS HOTLINE UPDATE newsletter I did for SCI.

There were a lot of questions about layout, paper, mailing costs, back ends. The NPGS was a back end to the book, 7 STEPS TO FREEDOM II.

So, by participating in all the forums, groups back then, and being a member of several early sites, like BMyers, there was a built in prospect base for my writing services, and my rates were'nt the cheap Gordon you know today. Before I found the low cost, several offers, build a list model...I liked to get a low 4 figures for this work, 2500 to 4500 seemed to be the sweet spot. Although not at liberty to reveal, and never have, always left it up to those who paid me, if they talk, fine...but my lips are sealed...and I think that led to a lot more work too.

Today, many blogs serve the same purpose of those old world printed on paper and mailed newsletters, to get fresh content out.

Although, the newsletter itself is very viable, eh Dien? Dien publishes great newsletters and his Hidden Business is supreme.

Feeling more like sharing about the early days of IM.

Re: You have 7 days to make a profit...
 

I like the idea of a HOTSHEET simply because it is simple. This got me to thinking.

Glenn Osborn has discussed his newsletter experience at the Jay Abraham conferences in various places. This newsletter concept for businesses is a very good one. Could the newsletter concept be used with a HOTSHEET?

Would this HOTSHEET be valuable enough to charge a premium price for it?

How would you make it valuable enough to charge a premium price?

With such a valuable HOTSHEET, say, delivered monthly, would it make sense to sell it face-to-face?

I know it is a lot of questions, but all this talk of HOTSHEETS just got me into overdrive. :)

Enter the hot tub...time machine.
 

Joe Karbo was the guy who showed me what a hotsheet was. He got several of them, but that was long before fax, Internet, just good ol USPS snail mail.

The one that caught my eye, was one about boats for sale in S. CA. It cost 20 dollars, and only 200 of them were mailed, weekly. Joe and his boat buddies got this one day ahead price reduction list from some S. CA yacht/boat association. I remember thinking, 20 x 200 for a single piece of paper, a stamp, an envelope...I could do that.

So I think that decades old example might fit the bill as far as what you are asking. A premium priced HOTSHEET requires a good list, with "inside" or advanced information, but it certainly is doable. I think many stock gurus have these types of things.

I feel the VALUE, doesn't come from making the information valuable, that requires selling/persuasion...NO, the value is in the DESIRE, the market, the list of people who already want it, so no selling is required.

Today, I wouldn't be keen on anything face to face, for myself...and my thinking is, if it can be done remotely, do it this way, because you are not limited to an area, location and trust me, the less slop and mess and people you have involved, the better it will be.

Think market first, and choose targets with money to pay for a premium, then you don't need so much effort in selling, but simply allowing for a limited number, use EXCLUSIVITY for higher prices.

Gordon

And so much more can be done with hotsheets...
 

Hi Gordon,

Wow... there's a lot of great stuff in this thread of yours...

I love hotsheets!

I often use them to "punch up" an offer... Give something extra, something to push someone "over the edge" into wanting to buy...

(And people have told me that they work. They say, "it was your offer of the Blah blah blah special report that pushed me into buying...)

So... they work!

And there's so much more you can do with hotsheets, that I haven't even done yet...

They've become a big part of what I do now...

Thanks for sharing the concept with us! :)

Best wishes,

Dien

RE: Hot Tub Time Machine
 

Gordon,

Even though I like people, you are right about selling remotely instead of face-to-face... less slop and mess. It saves time.

In addition, your thoughts about a market that desires what you have... like Halbert's "Hungry market" is a simple fact that many of us forget. (Sheesh)

Thank you for your reminders of the basics ! (Millard slaps his forehead)

Secrets. Ready to spill my guts, clean up on Aisle Gordo
 

I've made a lot of moolah selling writing to HUNGRY crowds. They are hidden in plain sight, seldom mentioned, rarely discussed. Mainly, most don't know about them. Or know how.

Thank goodness I'm here...and WILLING (finally) to share some details.

Yea, Halbert had the first half right on...sell to a hungry crowd. WHERE to find them is the more important detail he left off...

And once you know where they are, HOW TO contact them. And WHAT to say to them.

Gary had the right INTERSECTION in the transaction process, and maybe by example, he showed how he did it.

Before I reveal my closely guarded secrets, first...

There is a STARVING crowd outside TACO BELL at 2 AM, or there is a Hungry Crowd waiting for their seat at SUBLIMOTION in Ibiza, Spain.

Both hungry crowds, eh? A big difference between a box of tacos and a 20 course dinner experience.

So, as a marketer, I want a hungry crowd, but not a starving, penniless one outside of the homeless shelter waiting for the soup kitchen to open.

Which is why I harp so much on TARGETS, markets, avatars, niches and telling everyone for the umpteenth time, most profit is made at the choice of your offer.

What that is, like in chatteling, the What doesn't matter...

It is the ratio of hunger to dollars, can they afford it, and why not start with those that can, and do less selling, motivation, less persuasion and influence and find the HUNGRY crowd with the moolah and sell to them?

It it makes any sense to anyone, I'll continue and show exactly what I mean. No interest?

NO problem, I have other things to do.

Gordon

Re: Part time jobs which paid squat, led me to thousands of dollars.
 

Thanks Gordon - where to find the hungry crowd and which crowd to target sounds fantastic!

"Traffic" is almost always the missing link on the web :)

It is OK to post here, even guests, easier than email for me...OK?
 

Private messages and email are fine, however, I prefer you post unless it is a specific question just for you. In this case, a question and convo, I feel it is better to share with the group, OK?

So, the email query asked about if TRADE SHOWS was the secret to hungry buyers?

NO, I can be cryptic, often accused of being so, in this case, no...my point to seeing what is right in front of us, as most of us walk blindly around looking for opportunity, we often step over dollars to pick up dimes.

I like going into Walmart as soon as it opens, I consider it a classroom of Marketing. In my Buddha example, let me ask you all, who do go into a Walmart, how many times have you ever stopped at the jewelry counter?


Some, probably don't even know there is one. Right in front of our eyes, something we walk right by, without as much as a thought...and having been in the jewelry biz, and having written a lot of promotions for these kinds of items...I like to check and talk to the person at the counter.

Ask what is selling right now, what is popular? What are the favorite gifts? And if you just carry on a decent conversation, the person standing there will give you a lot of useful information.

So, NO, I used the TRADE show as an example of SELLERS ARE BUYERS TOO.

And they are a HUNGRY crowd with money to spend. Would it surprise you to learn the Walmart jewelry counter will be busy as heck from here til the end of the year? Well because of all the Mall closings, and most had at least 3 or 4 jewelry stores in them, and because some shoppers want to see, touch and feel the jewelry they buy...

Target and Walmart specializing in low end fine and what we once called costume jewelry will have BIG years, in the coming months.

Right before your eyes. See?

And NO, I'm not advocating getting into the jewelry biz, or the Trade show biz, just demonstrating where to find the TRAFFIC.

Online, if you sell jewelry, and don't have both an etsy and eBay store, you are not getting all the BUILT IN TRAFFIC there is. Online platforms, like those and craigslist, marketplaces (esp Facebook), all have TRAFFIC.

So, starting out. Instead of selling stuff where you need them coming to you, you go to the INTERSECTION where TRAFFIC already exists.

And using things like items sold in eBay or numbers sold on etsy, it is pretty easy to identify HUNGRY markets.

I am going to try to be less cryptic then maybe I've been in the past. But for now, for anyone here, who is interested in making money.

My song and dance, my story, my go to mantras, lectures and sermons have remained the same for over 3 decades.

You need someone who has money to buy and the DESIRE to do so.
You need to INTERSECT with this person somewhere at some time.
You need to have an offer, maybe one they can't refuse.

The details could be anything, any product, any service. But if you start with what we now call AVATARS, who are Prospects with money to spend and a desire to have.

Then meet them at some intersection of space and time. And have an offer. You can't help but make money.

It really is that simple.

So, worries like TRAFFIC, for example become less important, because one knows where the avatars are, and meets them on their journey.

If this doesn't answer the email question, please post up any followups here, or for the members in general, I stand (un, sit and rock) at the ready to answer your questions now, but if I get some energy back, I'll be back to work and less available than I am right now, so ask away.

Gordon

Re: Part time jobs which paid squat, led me to thousands of dollars.
 

Was selling 5 cars a year before the spike in used cars. In my state 5 is the limit before you have to have a dealer license.

Re: Secrets. Ready to spill my guts, clean up on Aisle Gordo
 

That missing link Gordon is what the so called IM Gurus won't share (if they even know) with their entry courses. Gotta attend the 10k Mastermind Workshop for that.

I for one am all EARS.

Re: Secrets. Ready to spill my guts, clean up on Aisle Gordo
 

ATTENTION. Right face.

At ease. Do this in your bathroom, and when you make your right face, make it toward the mirror, and SEE the face, THE best hungry face you will ever see.

And that is SECRET ONE. Assess what you buy, and why? Some necessities, probably have TeePee right there. But what about IM buys? Or look around your place, and if not a necessity, then WHY did you buy it, the whatever it is.

My little space heater under my desk keep my toes warm, whereas I prefer to work in a cool house, I'd rather wear a sweatshirt than have a lot of heat coming at me, but my feets, they like some warmth.

I guess I got HUNGRY for some warm feet, sans socks, which annoy me.

This time of the year, I bet ol Ben Suarez is raking it in with his EdenPure heaters, we just got our first taste of snow this past weekend, and we know it is on the way. Stupid people like me, still live here, and we make guys like Ben richer buying things we wouldn't need in S. FL. Why I ain't there, is a mystery to me.

Anyhow, in your bathroom looking at the Ideal avatar, do you see any toothpaste? Unless you make your own, chances are you are one of many millions of folks who use that same brand.

Do you go a month without when the tube is empty, or does your mouth hunger for some fresh cleanliness? And those smart folks selling that CONSUMABLE, are happy to fulfill that hunger you have.

So, when seeking HUNGRY markets for what you offer, start with the markets you are already a part of. Say you are in a group which discusses NOTES, and not the musical ones...but those which exchange hands and can turn a decent profit. Maybe a non performing piece of RE, coming on auction.

There will be bids. Who> where and when? Investors hungry for a good deal, eh?

So, my GO square with HUNGRY CROWDS begin with the one guy I see in the mirror, and then, my next move would be to find those AVATARS or Prospects if one prefers, who have similar interests as that handsome devil I see looking back at me.

More later.

Gordon

Re: Secrets. Ready to spill my guts, clean up on Aisle Gordo
 

Gordon,

As usual, you explain more in a few paragraphs than an entire college course in just about everything you touch. In addition, you make it simple to understand the whole avatar concept... by just taking a look at ourselves !

This "Looking in the mirror" simplifies a whole host of questions and gives valuable direction for those of us who are information marketers.

This brings up the notion that we should stick to what we know.

I WANT TO HEAR MORE ON THIS. :)

Re: Secrets. Ready to spill my guts, clean up on Aisle Gordo
 

MY opinion: 75% of the marketers I know, need to pivot away from what they are doing.

That could be controversial, if we had a ton of viewers here, and allow me to explain what I mean.

In over 30 years of dealing directly with Entrepreneurs and Internet Marketers, most create their own little mouse race; maybe having escaped the RAT race they once were in, now they are trapped in their own little world and the treadmill may not have as many people around it...

BUT IT IS A TREADMILL, just the same.

I am NOT saying to Abandon anything, but today, all of us, ME included, need to pivot to automation, software solutions, less people involved, less moving parts and less slop and mess.

Millard, I really am just an old record, and many folks have heard it, but sometimes, someone actually HEARS it.

When I made a conscious CHOICE away from Work (Werk?!!) for money to work for TIME, everything changed. My eyes were opened to Maximum Money in Minimum Time, the title of at least 3 different books I've read.

I like the concept. BUT, what is max money, and how much time is minimum?

Part two of that is, what do you do with the EXCESS money, the dough above and beyond living expenses, and here is where many create more work for themselves. THINGS. I made a conscious effort to NOT spend money on things. I was like Marty Kondo, not Marie, who didn't buy the stuff she would later see as clutter.

I like electronics, so a computer and all those gizmos were OK, but all the things I had or thought I wanted, fell by the wayside.

Again, not saying this is for anyone else, just as background.

If you want someTHING, NEVER get it on credit or terms, CASH ONLY. Hard concept to follow. But if anyone wants someTHING, then make the moolah first, then get it. A pretty tough discipline to follow.

Today, another opinion, Alen Sultanic is the best online marketer to learn from and follow, and his basic advice, which I have been giving for 30 years too is...MAKE OFFERS. Have something to sell.

Insurance companies use the term, IN FORCE, meaning the current state of an alive policy, one that is being paid or is paid up.

I borrow this term to offers, AND my initial question for people I work with is; what do you currently have in force? In the market? What are you selling?

To whom?

And WHY?

You are an ENTERTAINER. And you entertain via Magic.
You may be an Educator, also teaching by Magic.
As a marketer, you would need to have your magic knowledge IN FORCE, working for you. I think that is what you are doing now, right?

When you look in the mirror, do you not see decades of successful shows under your belt? A face that knows how to Entertain, but in order to be either an Educator or Entertainer, you have to have...

AN AUDIENCE.

And that is the same as the TRAFFIC question too.

WHO is going to see the show? Where, when? (INTERSECTION).

And for most all Entertainers in the world, the stumper; HOW.

How to get an audience? A gig? A booking? YOU know what to give them and are confident in your abilities to give a good show.

Now, this is a general Metaphor TOO. All of us being "performers" of sorts. My stage is the Internet, most of my performance is done via WRITING, and I have my own confidence in my skill.

Just as you might custom tailor a performance to any given audience, an elementary school probably a bit different than a corporate gig (maybe not, a lot of spoiled brats in business...ha!)...I might change up my writing to meet the needs of my audience.

Anyhow, a pivot in basketball, is when one foot stays in place. And I think those using the term forget this, when I see people talking about making a pivot in IM, they mostly talk about changing direction, with both feet (whistle blows, traveling called, ball gets taken away).

But keep one foot in place, doing what is paying the bills, but pivot directions by losing the slop, mess and

going back to Max. $$$ MIN time.

Less Slop
 

Gordon,

I am with you 100% !

After years of booking my own shows via my efforts in marketing, ads, etc., etc., etc. I found it tiring. However, all this marketing, etc., gave me something better than the shows... I got an education !

As a result, I found myself doing less and less entertaining and more and more consulting. This consulting was NOT for magicians (I found magicians notoriously cheap) but for business owners.

A LOT of times, it's simply asking "How are things going?" to start a conversation, and then it's off to the races.

Frankly, I give away a lot of free advice just chatting with people. Usually, if folks want more information, they just ask. I go from there.

Ha! The biggest challenge is getting clients to do what you ask them to do !

I do like the concept of group consulting or a monthly fee to discuss concepts on a weekly basis to a group via Zoom or other platform. There are a few folks that do this effectively, i.e. weekly Mastermind.

Doing this remotely or "hands off" is essentially a course... however, doing a weekly Mastermind pays much better.

But, getting back to less slop, a course, is more of set it up... say, place ads in places your target audience sees, or joint ventures, etc., and you are ready to go.

Still, a bit of work whatever you do. :)

One of those: Knowing what you know...questions?
 

Ponder this:
Millard, knowing what you know today, if you wanted (had) to go out and get a few gigs, quickly, WHAT would you do?

Give this some thought, and I wonder what, if any, social media, or newsworthy "press" you might use?

Your thought upon answer, could be as valuable as a front row seat to the next Taylor Swift concert.

GordonJ

I wouldn't flip a car for less than 2k profit, unless...
 

It was the same in OH, not sure today...but, consider the idea, of only a 1k flip on those 5, or 5 thousand dollars to work with.

On any given day, 10,001 Internet Marketers claim we can turn pennies into dollars with their programs. OK.

But 5 k can buy everything you need for an IM business, if one chooses the right one.

So, how many CATS or TRACTORS can you flip in your state? When Bill Myers wrote about the Kubota, BACK in the early 21st century, I made a haul, buying over there and selling over here. My Brother having a flatbed car hauler helped of course.

All kinds of things, but CARS, should be at least a couple a year, just to stay sharp and make fast bux.

Gordon

Getting Gigs Fast
 

Gordon,

In answer to your question on having to get gigs fast....

First, I'd contact everyone I did a show for and ask for referrals, giving them a FREE show for every referral that turned into a show. This isn't a risk for me because I know that every show I perform turns into at LEAST 4 other shows throughout the year.

Second, if I have to use social media, I would use copy that sold my shows and see if I could book some shows that way.

Thirdly, still using social media, I would offer a FREE show, with directions to contact me for information. I would make sure that the school getting the FREE show would allow me to mail a snail mail letter to all their friends at other schools AFTER I gave them a great show. :)

I may have mentioned this before, I did the exact thing with a pre-school director and booked an ENTIRE summer of shows this way.

No reason that a variation of this couldn't work today.

Perhaps someone could offer to do a FREE analysis of a business and then ask for 3 referrals. I seem to remember Paddi Lund, the highly successful Australian dentist, asked for 3 referrals BEFORE he actually started work on a patient.

Thanks Millard, the undisputed secret, out in the open.
 

The SECRET, espoused by every known marketing guru ever...is REFERRALS.

J. Abe. called them hidden assets. D. Kenn. had them as secrets, etc., etc., etc., etc., and on and on and on.

Your SATISFIED customers are the absolute, no argument, hands down, undisputed BEST source of new business.

I'm glad you share that. One note, and this goes back some time when Bob Blagg was writing his JUST ONE IDEA report, I encouraged him to include the exact example, and he did. Sales letters, all the things he would send out to prospects.

We may KNOW that referrals contain a big solution for new business, THE HOW TO GET THEM, and the ways and means, including letters, emails, scripts, etc. would fetch some nice coin in the market.

HOW do I ask my customers for referrals, how to do it in such a way that makes it comfortable, easy, and non threatening?

And I believe this will be an Evergreen product for as long as ever is green.

Thanks for sharing.

Gordon



In answer to your question on having to get gigs fast....

First, I'd contact everyone I did a show for and ask for referrals, giving them a FREE show for every referral that turned into a show. This isn't a risk for me because I know that every show I perform turns into at LEAST 4 other shows throughout the year.

Second, if I have to use social media, I would use copy that sold my shows and see if I could book some shows that way.

Thirdly, still using social media, I would offer a FREE show, with directions to contact me for information. I would make sure that the school getting the FREE show would allow me to mail a snail mail letter to all their friends at other schools AFTER I gave them a great show. :)

I may have mentioned this before, I did the exact thing with a pre-school director and booked an ENTIRE summer of shows this way.

No reason that a variation of this couldn't work today.

Perhaps someone could offer to do a FREE analysis of a business and then ask for 3 referrals. I seem to remember Paddi Lund, the highly successful Australian dentist, asked for 3 referrals BEFORE he actually started work on a patient.[/quote]

Re: Secrets. Ready to spill my guts, clean up on Aisle Gordo
 

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#1 Best Selling GirlScout Gave a Speech At Million Dollar Realtor RoundTable
 

Thanks Gordon,

This Little Girl KNOWS what you are Talking about.

She Bought a Tractor Trailer load of Girl Scout Cookies to an Event where she KNEW several 100 Millionaires would gather.

Personally Put a CASE of Cookies under each affluent Realtors Chair.

Then Said, "Since each of you is a Millionaire. And You WANT to help Young People like myself succeed. I've placed a Case of Girl Scout Cookies under Your Chair. I will Now Walk thru The Audience and Collect a 100.00 bill from each of you."

AND
She
Got a Standing ovation.

Sales people APPRECIATE Guts!

Thanks,
Glenn

Jay Abraham and Referrals
 

[/quote]

Thanks Gordon for the kind words.

Most of us who've been around awhile, remember Jay Abraham offering to work for free as long as he got a tremendous referral after a job well done. (BTW, if anyone has a copy of that ad or knows where it is located, I'd sure like to look at it again.)

Jay sent out a very colorful folder out to his list (I have still got it) that proclaimed that if you took Jay's advice you could make money from virtually any business in town. This folder, along with it's contents was very pricey to make... and sold a very expensive seminar... I think this was the $15,000 seminar Jay produced.

In any case, I have always liked the idea of doing something very impactful for free or a very low cost to get people interested in my offer.

There has got to be a way that a person could do this in person. I realize that Jay created his little "Billion Dollar Man" booklet as a substitute for a business card, and Glenn Osborn had his newsletter that helped book clients from an Abraham seminar in the back of the room.

I would think the idea that I mentioned in another post about a "Hotsheet" per Gordon would be the ticket.... Now, just need to figure out what to put on it that gets potential clients excited enough to give me a call.

What might work is some great information with a link to a page that offers a free report as long as they give their email address. HOWEVER, I don't want the slop and mess....so.... offering a free analysis or consult with NO strings (I just tell them what should be done... not how to do it) is probably the right call.

Just put my number, since I will limit who gets this by the fact I am giving it away personally.