May 11 2008
Act as If
You want a really powerful technique that will knock the socks off your competitors and your customers? Just act as if.
Act as if you have already made the sale, you will sell more.
Act as if you have already beat your competitors, they will pick up on that and begin to panic.
Act as if you are already successful and people will begin to treat you that way.
My father was a master at this. He was a great salesman and later a great teacher. We would go to a college campus, or a football game, or sometimes just be out and about. I am always curious and would ask about a building, or I would say out loud how I wish we could go in there.
Off he would go, just pulling on doors to see which one was unlocked. I would get scared, but he would turn to me and say, “Act as if you were supposed to be here and no one will say anything different”.
Guess what? He was right, he was always right. We would get inside the private practice facilities of major sports programs (I will not tell you which). One day we decided to go into the science building of a large university. Before we knew it we were in the reptile lab with several graduate assistance and they were pulling out exotic snakes, lizards, turtles, and things that I did not know even existed.
Why? My father just went in and started asking quesitons. He was genuinely curious. When he asked he acted as if he expected them to answer him. He was not rude or disrespectful. He was not loud and boastful. He was not overbearing. He simply asked and waited for them to answer in a very polite and respectful manner.
You know what? They always answered. They always were happy to answer. No one ever questioned why we were there.
He acted as if. It was great fun, it was harmless, and I got to see many things that I never thought I would see.
Just act as if, and see where it gets you!
