"When a wild elephant is to be tamed and trained, the best way to begin is by yoking it to one that has already been through the process. By contact, the wild one comes to see that the condition it is being led toward is not wholly incompatible with being an elephant -- that what is expected of it does not contradict its nature categorically, but heralds a condition that, though startlingly different, is viable. The constant, immediate, and contagious example of its yoke fellow can teach it as nothing else can.

Training for the life of the spirit (or learning, KK) is no different. The transformation facing the untrained is neither smnaller than the elephant's nor less demanding. Without visible evidence that success is possible, without a continuous transfusion of courage, discouragement is bound to set in..." -Huston Smith, Buddhism, 2004.

Smith is also the author of "The Soul of Christianity."

Isn't this what Jesus meant when he told his disciples to go "two-by-two", side by side, to tell the story? One who was trained, the other in training, watching and being in the "right association" with the trained one?

Two-by-two been one of the most reliable training methods in training new people in door-to-door and direct sales. For the same reasons it works for the elephants.

Is there anyone in our business anymore who practices two-by-two with a new recruit?

For example, learning to talk to people together first, e.g. cadaver calling together, before the new recruit goes calling on their best prospects? Something which you know many will do no matter what you say?

~ The Case for Fanatics... ~

Tonight I had a group of guys who were discussing how to get more aces, or evangelist types, to help them build their businesses.

I told them a story...

There are two major organic food markets in the Kansas City area, where I am right now: Whole Foods and Wild Oats.

Someone who works at the Wild Oats store related recently how the new owners there had decided to add "regular" products like Tide and Crest toothpaste, because, they thought their customers might want to buy those things there, instead of having to go to say Price Chopper, to get them.

The other store, Whole Foods, is planning to do the opposite: go ALL organic, and drop lines that are not organic from their stores.

Question 1: Which store would you go to?

(Response: about half and half)

Question 2: Which store do you think organic fanatics will go to? (Are there regular grocery store fanatics, even?)

(Response: to the all-organic store)

Question 3. Which kind of people would you prefer to represent YOUR product line? Fanatics or luke-warm, half hearted ones?

(Response: fanatics)

Indeed. Fanatics will tell fence-sitter friends of theirs where to shop, so you don't have to. Luke warm ones won't.

There are way fewer fanatics than luke warm types, and if you can attract a fanatic, because YOU are one, you will earn their loyalty and their evangalism. Saves you marketing effort for the luke warm ones.

If you are a fanatic, and act like it, other fanatics will join you.

Are you fanatic about what you market? Do you love it madly because of what it did for you in your life?

Do you know how to tell that fanatic story so other fanatics hear the call and come running?

P.S. As an organic fanatic, where do you think I will be shopping from now on?