Ross Perot used to tell we employees a story about his Lincoln. He claimed that when he took it to the shop everyone was very nice to him. Yet he was always surprised that no one ever inquired about whether he would like to purchase a new car. He finally got cured of that story addressing a car salesman's convention. That night he lawn was covered with Lincolns and Cadillacs with keys in them.
But the point is well taken. Today I had to take my bike back to the shop for the second flat tire in a week. I ride a Trek I bought in San Marcos. This shop in Cedar Hills sells Trek. I asked for slime in the tire, a puncture sealant. Turns out Slime actually makes a tube for that purpose. And so they installed one in one tire. THen I asked why not the other? So they installed a second. On presentation of the final bill I asked if this was a chain store, no was the reply, I own the store the lady said. Well then why didn't you sell me two tubes? She looked offended. And of course in the twenty minutes I stood around, do you think she even attempted to engage me in conversation about my bike, where I bought it, did I like it, how long had I been riding, etc. And I was the only person in the shop!
Students, there is a lesson here. I frequently mention Dale Carnegie who emphasizes the importance of relating to the other person. That is all marketing is. That is all networking is. Who are you, where are you going, why, gee the things you can learn if you make the other person the center of the conversation. You never know where networking might lead so don't hesitate to ask, after all we are all selling something, and you are selling yourself at this point.
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