The 7-piece sets of matched and monogrammed luggage are not often seen on the baggage carousel at the airport. There have probably been too many instances where the luggage has gone astray simply because it looks expensive. Since you are not allowed to lock the luggage because of security reasons, it makes little sense to purchase expensive and secure luggage with the expectation of keeping the contents safe.
Many more travelers today seem to be using duffel bag type luggage as opposed to hard-sided luggage. You just have to be careful about breakable items placed in with your dress shirts. Handling luggage is a lost art and nobody, it seems is at fault.
In the past, it seems that women travelers were the ones who typically had the massive amounts of luggage, although they were the least able to manage the logistics of getting the items from the automobile to the baggage check area. Now you see both professional men and women traveling with only a small carry-on bag and a laptop. There is sometimes not even a piece of luggage, which is checked.
Efficient travelers stride up to the ticket kiosk, sometimes check luggage at curbside so they are relatively unfettered when they enter the terminal. At the other end of the trip, you see confident people pulling down the hand luggage from the overhead bins almost before the 'fasten seat belts' sign is turned off so they can be the first off the plane.
Usually it is better to take a deep breath and stay in one's seat until the aisle starts to clear out a little so you will not be pushed in the back by someone's oversized luggage. Occasionally, of course, the luggage in the overhead compartments actually has shifted and so opening the compartment results in hand luggage dropping onto the head of the person still politely waiting in the seat below.
Those people who were first off the plane rush to be first to the baggage carousel where they station themselves as close as possible to the opening where the luggage enters the terminal. It is as if they fear that someone else will grab the luggage first if they do not get it immediately off the carousel.
I answered the phone today. It's something I rarely do anymore, and I was reminded why the instant I heard the voice on the other end. I honestly don't even remember what she was selling, but I do remember some key phrases. "People just like yourself" always pushes my buttons, and when she used it, I almost interrupted, but decided to allow her to ramble on about how wonderful whatever it was truly was.
She talked at me. She had no clue who I was, what my goals were, what ails me, or how her product/service could solve my problems. Even though she was a live person, she was still a machine, reading from a script to no one in particular. I was a printed name on her lead sheet, complete with telephone number. I had no feelings, no life experience, or face. I was part of the proverbial wall that she was throwing stuff against, seeing how much would stick.
When she finished, I asked her for her first name. A brief pause, then, "Erica." I proceeded to ask Erica several more questions: How long had she been doing this? Did she like it? What attracted her to this kind of work? Several times she tried to switch back to selling mode, but the exhilaration of talking about herself won out. She had three kids, had recently obtained her real estate license, and was trying to sell her house. She changed her own oil in her car, sang Janis Joplin songs in the shower, and her favorite movie was anything starring Johnny Depp. By the end of the conversation, we had become friends, even though she knew almost nothing about me. I politely declined her offer, but she thanked me anyway. It was a positive experience for both of us.
I've no doubt that if I presented Erica my business opportunity after I had respected her by truly listening to what she had to say, that she would have been quite receptive. We've all heard it said that people like to buy, but not to be sold. When they buy, they'd rather buy from someone they consider a friend, or at least somebody they like.
Nothing exists that causes people to feel more comfortable than asking questions and listening attentively to their answers. Not only the words, but listen for the meaning behind the words.
For example, few people want money just for the sake of having it. If someone says their big "why" is to have more money, ask them why. You might get something like, "I want buy a house in the Florida keys." Asked why a house in the keys and you might get, "We spent our honeymoon there. It was so awesome that we both decided that, if we could ever afford it, we'd live there." The underlying problem is ALWAYS attached to emotion.
Many refer to this as a consultative approach. When using questions to initiate dialogue, you take the focus off yourself and your opportunity, and place it on your prospect. This has two major advantages.
Firstly, by focusing on your prospect's wants and needs, you virtually eliminate any anxiety associated with picking up the phone. You're not expected to perform, just listen.
Secondly, this process allows you to know the root issues in this person's life that need to be addressed. Then, when it comes time to present your opportunity, not only will this person be more receptive, you will be able tailor your presentation to suit her individual needs.
This is not a cookie-cutter, "People just like yourself" approach. We get bombarded by that crap every day. Most of us see it coming from miles away, and are now immune to it.
Unless and until you get inside your prospect, start thinking the way he does, and understand what he wants and why, you'll not see the phenomenal results achieved by the heavy hitters in this industry.
Gregory Mcguire has sinced written about articles on various topics from Abortion, Boating and Consumer. Gregory McGuire is a successful network marketer living in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. "Stop wasting time on old school network marketing techniques -find out why 97% of mlmers never make any real money.". Gregory Mcguire's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.