I get many emails and am subscribed to a number of ezines of a personal growth, coaching, marketing, spiritual, healing nature. I admit that I just delete a lot of them unopened. Others get opened skimmed and the ones from my faves warrant perusal. It’s a great learning experience – what works, what draws me in, what turns me off, or is forgettable. It’s like watching movie trailers – getting the highlights, a sense of the whole and then moving on. The taste sufficed.
Today I got a phone call on behalf of a coach I like. She is promoting a program and had a free call about it last week. I registered but wasn’t able to be on the call, nor have I listened to the recording. This phone call was to follow up on a special offer to attend the upcoming program. There was no pressure, just an offering and I was impressed rather than annoyed at this ‘live’ follow up. I usually worry that I will annoy people if I approach them to promote something, especially more than once and here I was, having the opposite experience.
I’ve been shining a light on the belief: ‘it’s annoying when people try to sell you stuff’ and have opened a can of worms. I noticed that I wasn’t annoyed when approached in a warm, unsalesy way. If no one knows what great stuff you’re up to and what you have to offer,you’re depriving them as well as out of business. How much does it matters whether some people are annoyed with me or not. If I believe in what I have to offer and the stand I am taking, I owe it to myself and to you to put in out there. So do you.
5 Simple Steps to Paradise is a group coaching program that’s for you if you’re a Baby Boomer woman who’s ready to change your mind and transform your life. http://lifecoachparadise.com/5-steps.htm
I intend to overcome my definition of annoying by transforming the dynamic of asking you for something into what it really is – offering you something of great value that will change your life. Interested? http://lifecoachparadise.com/5-steps.htm
Look forward to my annoying you in delightful ways to pique your interest, inform, help you focus on what you want and provide delicious nuggets for your inspiration and nourishment.
There is a proverb, by Blake, that “all wholesome food is caught without a net or trap.” When somebody using devices, like a hunter after prey, it is annoying. And, unfortunately, much sales training is focused on how to make somebody do what you want them to do instead of what the two of you can do, together, for mutual benefit. That’s annoying.
Thanks for the comment Dan. Love the Blake quote and agree that salesy and manipulative are annoying. I think that some people feel that to ask is to risk being annoying, or presumptuous (annoyiing) and it’s just those beliefs I’m uncovering and realizing that when people have something that I want – I’ll pay and not feel annoyed. Truthfully I have a suspicion that I could ask a whole lot more and still not be annoying or know that people who will be interested won’t be annoyed. That whole thing of facing rejection and looking foolish or having been told to sit down and shut up – impedes progress which, for me, involves asking. A work in progress. xxAnne
I totally agree Anne. Approaching people personally the way the coach did is a great WARM way to connect. We are in an age where we are social networking and it shouldn’t be scary to approach those that have ‘opt-ed in’ in some very personal way.. i.e. a follow up call! Love that she took the time to hear your voice and connect with you the 20th century way!
Great post, as always! I’m sharing on my Facebook page!
Raven