Why I Love The Help Wanted Ads
My business was slow for a brief duration a number of years ago, and I started calling on some employment ads. The calls went something like this...
1st call
Company: What's your name?
Me: Bruce. What company is this? The ad does not indicate that.
Company: What's your last name please?
Me: What is the 'name' of your company?
Company: Your last name sir?
Me: Right, I said what is the 'name' of your company?
Company: It's 'company xyz'
Me: OK, thanks, not interested.
2nd call
Company: Do you have a sales background?
Me: Yes.
Company: Can you tell me about that?
Me: I've brokered multi-million dollar deals for private islands and shopping malls. I can sell anything. Your ad indicates you are paying ___ plus commission, correct?
Company: Well, between you and me, they don't really ever pay that much, but don't tell them that I told you, they won't really pay that.
Me: Wow, thanks for that information. Goodbye.
Company: Bye bye.
3rd call
Me: I am interested in your position of ______ .
Company: Well no, you can't have that.
Me: Why not?
Company: Because that's my position!
Me: Oh, well why don't we get you promoted and you can take _____ position and I will take yours?
Company: (Laughs), No I'm afraid we can't do that.
Me: Why not?
Company Because that's the owner's position!
Me: Well, tell him to get a new job!
Company: (laughs) You know, sometimes I'd like to! Don't tell him I said that, will you?!
Me: (Laughs), Don't worry, I won't... good bye.
Company: Hey, who is this? Please don't tell him...
4th call
Company: You're over qualified.
Me: Well, just pretend I didn't tell you all that, and then I am not over qualified, I am just qualified.
Company: Umm, I can't do that?
Me: Why not?
Company: Uh, I don't know, because you already told me?
Me: Yes, I know, but just pretend I didn't, you can pretend I didn't, right?
Company: Um, I have to go now...
Me: Why?
Company: I don't know, I just do.
Me: But...
Company: click
5th call:
Me: I need to speak to the owner please.
Company: And who is this?
Me: The owner please.
Company: O.K., your name sir?
Me: Owner!
Owner: yes sir, how can I help you?
Me: Your company needs some marketing training. Your receptionist does not know how to handle the phones. She put me on hold without even asking if I could wait when she did not know who I was, then I got disconnected. I'd like to e-mail you out a proposal that will help you, O.K.?
Owner: O.K, send me some information. My e-mail is____.
Me: O.K. Will do. My services start at ___. I will call you in a few days to follow up.
Owner: That sounds good, I will look at it.
And so, it went something like this, and by the time I was done, I realized, I don't need a job. I have a job. Many jobs. And I realized, I can close a deal easier for myself than I can close a deal getting a job and then having to close a deal working for someone else making less than half the money. I realized, I didn't need a job, I needed motivation. And I got it. Now, every time I need a bit of motivation, I just look at the want ads.
And when I look at the want ads, I think of working for someone else making a fraction of the money, under an often stupid set up with often times lazy people, and then—I get motivated real fast, and I close I deal—boom! That's motivation. And that's why I love the help wanted ads.
Sometimes, you don't need to stop doing what you are doing and do something different, you may just need to do it differently, or do it more effectively. A key indicator as to whether or not you are doing the right thing is to ask yourself, are you happy doing what you are doing? If you are not happy, then you are most likely in the wrong line of work. However, if you would do what you do for nothing, then you are most likely in an area that you can excel at. Love what you do, make your work your passion, and then, work will not be a negative four letter word. Make a job out of your passion, and eventually, if you do things correctly, provide valuable goods or services, treat people great, and know how to sell, success will be yours.
This story is ©2013, Bruce Edwin / The Hollywood Sentinel, all world rights reserved. To comment on this article or this issue, you may do so in the box here below.