Conversational Recruiter: ?Bob, this is a network marketing call. I'm going to ask you one question, and it's going to take 30 seconds of your time. If the answer is ?no,? the call is over. Is it okay if I go ahead and ask you the question??

So, what did we accomplish with this second move?

First, we told the prospect that this is a network marketing call. Now the prospect probably guessed this already, but we were bold enough to tell the prospect why we are calling. This has never happened before. Networkers are never this up front and honest. We just gained some points with the prospect.

Second, we told the prospect that we are going to only ask him one question, and it will only take 30 seconds of his time. The prospect is thinking that this isn't going to take long, and I'll soon be rid of this person. In fact, the prospect might be thinking that in another 30 seconds, I can go back to watching my Three's Company marathon. And, if I give this person any resistance, this call might take a while. I don't want to make a mistake like I did a few seconds ago.

Third, we tell the prospect if his answer is ?no,? the call is over. The prospect is thinking that this is going to be easy. I say ?no,? and Three's Company, here I come. But did you notice what we didn't say? That's right. We didn't say what would happen if he says anything other than ?no?. There are no other options to the prospect. This allows the prospect to relax.

The prospect is thinking, what kind of network marketer is this? Networkers never want to hear ?no,? right? Haven't we all been taught that we should get the prospect saying ?yes?? Build up an army of yes's, and when you ask the closing question, the prospect will say ?yes?. Well, that never worked for me. Not once. And I tried it hundreds of time before I decided that it was just bad advice.

Prospects aren't stupid; they can smell obvious manipulation a mile away. That's why that tactic doesn't work. Maybe prospects fell for it back in the 30s, when it was conceived, but it sure doesn't work now.

Fourth, we ask the prospect if it is okay to ask the one question. Again, the prospect is thinking, ask the question; I say ?no?; the call is over; I go back to Chrissy, Jack, the other girl, and Mr. Roper. I think I can handle this. Go ahead and ask your question, pal, I've got ?no? written all over it. Just ask the questions, I've got a show to watch.

The prospect has just gotten out of his daze of confusion. He thinks he is back in control. All is right with the world. It truly is a false sense of security because by allowing us to go ahead and ask our one question, the prospect is 2/3 of the way into our recruiting process?and he doesn't even know it.

We are a couple of moves away from checkmate. I hope he is recording his show.

I know, I know, I said opening the call involved three steps. Well, the next step involves a series of small moves. The best part is, it doesn't matter what the prospect says. If the prospect says, ?no? to our question, the call is far from over. You'll see why in the next, and last, article in this series.