This business is peculiar
“Would you be open to looking at new ways of making money in 2010?”
“I certainly would. I’m being made redundant in March.”
Now could I have known that? This business gets more peculiar every day.
The piggies and I were out on the streets of Colchester. We’d just been to sign up the solicitor from yesterday’s networking breakfast meeting (and he says I’m going to get a call from the partner who deals with the office). Out on the pavement again, I started dispensing the piggies. There’s a new record for this. I just heard about it: 50 piggies given out in 14 minutes. I had a good half an hour to play with: “Have you had one of these… here take one of these… it’s about money… it’s absolutely brilliant.”
And people who a moment earlier had been staring at the ground, their expressions apparently matching their hopeless thoughts, suddenly smiled and said: “Thank you.”
And then I looked through the plate glass window of a building society and saw a young man sitting at a desk near the door. He wasn’t there to deal with the money. He was the “accessible” member of staff; ready with advice or to help you open a new account – and he looked as if the world was about to end and he’d got all his money in fixed-term bonds. I pushed open the door.
“I’ve come in on a whim,” I said, sitting down opposite him. “Tell me, would you be open to looking at new ways of making money in 2010.”
And that was when he told me about the redundancy.
Now isn’t that strange. “I came in on a whim,” I told him. “I get them sometimes. Now isn’t that peculiar… Anyway, let me tell you what I’ve got here…”
And I did. I showed him the company and I showed him how the money works. I was in and out within within ten minutes. Now I wonder if I just changed somebody’s life?
Back on the street the piggies flew out of my fist – and so did a couple of DVDs: These were what we call “quality prospects” – a couple of street canvassers handing out leaflets about whether I’d made a wil… but I wonder if you can spot my big mistake?
“I have made a will. But you know, I’m always looking for people who are good at talking to the public. Do you enjoy your job?”
“Oo yes,” she said. “You have a laugh.”
“That’s what I thought. Tell me, are you open to looking at new ways of making money in 2010?”
And she was. And so was her friend. And now they’ve both got DVDs and invitations to our meeting on the 17th.
I even remembered to tell them to join first so they could bring their friends. But I’ve just realised my big mistake: I never took one of their leaflets about the wills – will writers make excellent distributors…