Hi Michael,

I've just recently confronted this side of myself too, so I wanted to tell you about my limited but encouraging experience.

> I am afraid to talk to people about
> products. Fear of failure? Fear of Success?
> Fear of "No!" Something, I don't
> know exactly.

I had and still have to a degree the same problem.

I think a big part of it is a fear of success in spite of minor rejection. It's amazing how the thought of such minor, impersonal rejection can send shivers down a person's spine. Even though you can logically KNOW that if you persist in spite of these minor rejections, you'll have an outstanding winner on your hands! It's almost as if you have to be able to strong arm yourself into following through...

Sorry, I made it sound a lot harder than it really is... a simple "try again" said silently to yourself is usually enough to forge ahead.

Ok, I've just recently fell in love with a powerwasher.

Fine, I've been having the affair for a few months.

BUT, I just recently had to start going out of my way to drum up business.

AND, my results were fantastic. I've got even more business than I told everyone from just a few hours of work on a nice Saturday afternoon (yes, I'm talking about the last saturday, this saturday is muggy enough to force me to change shirts 3 or 4 times while going door to door).

I just did it. I kept thinking I wasn't going to... all the while going along, making the flyers, knowing I was going to get it done if I just followed each step. Part of me knew and part of me didn't.

So here's how to do it if you're going door to door (new business running already):

Step 1: Get in car.

Step 2: Drive to area you need to work in.

Step 3: Say to self, "Oh that house looks like a perfect candidate. If only I could make myself go talk with the owner."

Step 4: Park just to take a better look.

Step 5: Open door, get out, ring doorbell.

Now, you have to act.

Yes, the chances are the first time you'll just bail ("Um, I thought the Murphy's lived here. No? Gee golly, sorry to disturb you." me)

Eventually after repeating the steps enough, you'll mumble something about what your offering. And chances are, if they have a need for what you offer, they'll ask you for your card. Give it to them, try to gracefully exit without tripping on anything.

Michael, I'm not being condescending in any way towards you. I'm just having a little fun with what I imagine could happen to myself in such a situation.

(Granted, you may not be providing a labor service to homeowners like I'm currently doing.)

> Anyway what I would like from this forum is
> your advice, what would be a great way of
> getting out of my comfort zone? How should I
> go about stretching my ask muscles? Could it
> be as easy as "Ask someone each day for
> something that you know might get you a
> "No!"?" Nothing ventured...

That's a good idea.

Wish I could be of more help. Just wanted to reassure you a little, maybe make you laugh (or not).

Success,

Erik Lukas

P.S. One good tip is once you know a project you want to try, to stop searching for stuff on ebay. Yeah, that will save a lot of time. And yet, I have it open in another window this very minute.