A while ago, procrastination had prevailed and I’d almost run out of checks, yet again. In a panic, I called 1-800-CHECKLADY for the reorder, not feeling compelled to search the internet for half an hour to find $1.98 in savings.
Checklady (I suppose there are Checkguys, too) was named Judy and had a pleasant telephone voice. Judy did her best to up sell me to get designer checks with pretty scenes on them with “my special message”, but I resisted and insisted on boring old blue, the same color I have been using since Jimmy Carter was in office.
She laughed at my description of boring old blue and gave up trying to get me in the first class section of check design. I gave her credit for offering me the option of fancy checks; she made no assumptions and asked the right questions.
I’ve been thinking about the long period of time when checks only came in plain, boring, pastel colors. No panoramic views, themed messages or puppies and kittens on them were offered.
Functional and boring was the only choice until a very brave person at the check printing company said to the boss, “I think if we offer a wide variety of printed designs on checks, our customers will pay a premium to have them.”
The boss, also a user of blue checks, questioned, “You think our customers will pay more money for a check that is only seen by them twice and once by the clerk at the utility company?
I wouldn’t do that. . . but, let’s see if they want to. . .” The check printing company has lived happily ever after because the boss chose to not do his customers’ thinking for them.
Clients and friends are often describing to me situations in which they use language that sounds like this:
- I know she will never go for that price because she paid $_____ for starting a colt last time and why would she pay me more when she doesn’t know me that well?
- I just know that if I say _________ to him he will say ______ and that will mean ______ and he’ll say NO.
- The horse trailer must be very important to him, he keeps it in perfect condition and a new one would cost well over $____ and why would he ever consider my offer for the trailer?
You’re detoured on the road of progress whenever you get snared in your self-made thinking traps. As a result of doing the other person’s thinking, entire conversations can happen between two people in the busy mind of the role-playing thinker.
Quit doing other people’s thinking for them!
State your case and test what you think you know. You’ll never know until you allow the other party to participate in your imaginary conversations.
Ask, and wait for the answer. That’s how conversation leads to sales and profits.