Best 3 foot rule pick up line.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Ayers on November 2, 2007 at 10:16am

Brian

I have always done best with the 3 foot rule when it is natural. not scripted and not planed. I do not think, for me, that I am a very good actor. And that is what knowing a "line" is. If i hearse and rehearse a line till I have it down it does not seem to fit the situation. and I am tense when trying it. Even though that is what I wanted.

However when I am open to what is going on around me I strike up a conversation after a smile is exchanged. talk a bit about what my be in the proximity and now I am going to contradict my self and say I do have a "line" . I ask them if they are ever looking to add financially to what they are doing now. If I get a positive response I make my intro short and sweet, and am out of there fast. I do want several exposures to what I am doing. I do not want to explain it on the spot. I have tried plenty of time and the results have been dismal to say the least. Some people can pull it off, but I have not. So I quickly give them my info and ask for theirs. Then I follow up. They say it takes 7 exposures before someone will be ready to but. In some cases that is true, I must be easier though.

(Interesting note a this point. I just got a call form a "salesman" a fellow I had talk to recently about a sea container to store my powered paraglider in. At the end of the conversation, I asked him my no line- line and he said yes he was looking. Sent him to my site, suggested he look at all the videos, fill in the form so I could send him more info and told him I will get back to him. So in a couple days I will follow up unless he calls me back first.)

If you have an auto responder get their permission to plug them in and get them in your system

I am by no means an expert here, just sharing what has gotten me results.

One movie that had a profound impact on me and life was "The Elephant Man" with John Hurt. In the beginning I was repulsed by the man, in the end I came to be comfortable with him because who was inside. And that was in the span of ~2hours. The movie makers touched moved and inspired me and the rest of the audience by the way the person shined.

I am working on ways to drive prospect to me that are ready willing and able. In other words they are pursuing me.
Good luck and keep me posted.

Mark

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Permalink Reply by Tim Stephens on December 14, 2007 at 5:43am

Hello All!

I agree, I do not have a "line" but after a conversation:

"Have you found the thing that is going to take care of you and your family financially for the rest of your lives?"

It is delivered with sincerity.

Live your Dream!
Tim

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Permalink Reply by Terri Stallcop on December 17, 2007 at 7:36am

Hi Brian - I know exactly what you mean. I gave up on the 3 foot rule long ago because for me it does not work. But occasionally I forget that it doesn't work. On my last trip, I was reading a book on the plane about my company's products. Even though I hate the 3 foot rule, I was illegitamately feeling guilty about not sharing my business with the nice young man only 6 inches away from me on the plane. But I resisted and just read my book after we had said hello.

It is so much more relaxing (and normal) to enjoy life not feeling obligated to share about my business. Thank goodness those days are over. Anyway, he asked me about the book. I just said something like "It's good - the title is just a play on words, though. It's not really about being ageless." Then the best I could, I went back to reading. I was not trying to be strategic but that is a strategy - to only talk about business with people who are really interested.

He was still curious and said "What do you mean?" Now, if I had answered his question with a question about him, like " Why did the title catch your eye?" Then I would have discovered right away that he was a student, soon to be a chiropractor, and no doubt, would have been interested in the business. But, I went into "sales mode." Old habits die hard. I know better than to do that but I answered his question with answers that were all about me and my business. BIG mistake. In the middle of my 2 minute answer, he literally closed his eyes, smiled and leaned his seat back saying "I see." I eventually did ask about him, genuinely interested. He was such a nice guy. But it was 2 minutes of "sales pitch" too late. He was polite but no longer at all interested in getting to know me.

Good to meet you Brian. Hope this story helps! Terri

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Permalink Reply by Brian Johnson on December 17, 2007 at 9:43am

Terri,

I hae many stories like this. You are right, a response with a question...the right question can make or break the conversation. I find that is the art of this business.and sales in general. One of my favorite sayings is "People love to buy, but hate being sold"

In dealing with people as I do when I sell in my day job, i've come to veiw suspects and prospects like combination locks. get it right and they open up. Get it wrong and they stay locked up to you for good.

And just like locks, everyone's combination is different.

The art is learning how to uncover thier combination.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Tinney on January 30, 2008 at 12:00pm

The training below I stole from someone. Paula Prichard is who I first ever heard use it.
In any event its good info on starting a ocnversation!

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I'm a big believer that you can increase your recruiting ratios if you merely know the "want" or "hot button" of the person you are trying to recruit. You will peak their interest in your opportunity if they see it as the answer or solution to what they want.

This is true on the Internet or on the phone. Paula Prichard taught a method called "FORM"
For the most part, you'll find that they either want to quit their job; they want something material like a bigger home, car, tuition, vacation; or they want the freedom of being in business for themselves. Keep in mind; their "hot button" or "want" is going to make them want to look at your business more than any other reason.

Some people make the mistake of thinking that money is the key issue. They'll contact someone and say; "I found a way for us to make more money or a lot of money." Money by itself doesn't mean anything. Only when you turn it into something you want does it start to mean something. It's what you buy with the money that counts.

So let's say, for example, that the person you're talking to wants a Jaguar. Well, if you say money they have to take a lateral step in their thinking process and turn the word "money" into the "Jaguar" that they want.

What if they don't do that? You're leaving it to chance.
What if, instead, when you say money they think about and turn it into the electric bill. I doubt the electric bill excites them. Wouldn't you agree?

If you want someone to look at your company, you call and say "Jaguar," and if that's their hot button they'll say when, where, and how? Whereas, if you say money, it delays their thought process and you're taking a chance and hoping they think of a Jaguar. Don't leave anything to chance. Why not just say, "Jaguar" from the beginning?
What If You Don't Know Their Want?
If you have someone you want to approach about your business but you don't know their want use 'FORM.

F stands for family. O is for occupation. R is for recreation. M is for message. It's a great way to strike up a conversation and find out a person's wants, just by following this simple formula. FORM will work with people you know, people who are slight acquaintances and even with people you don't know.
First let's use it with people you know. Pretend you have someone you'd like to partner with. You know them because they're someone you call on in your job. You've talked a lot but never about anything personal. Here's what you are going to do the next time you are with them. Strike up a conversation focusing on the FOR part of FORM, family, occupation, recreation. At the same time you are going to imagine that you have a file cabinet in your head.
The heading on that file cabinet is "wants." Your goal every time you hear this person say something they want is to file it away until you determine the most powerful "want" or "hot button" for this person. Then that's the "want" you'll use in your invitation.

Assume you're calling on someone with whom you do business. Strike up a conversation about their family, which is the F in FORM. Ask if they are married. Do they have children? Do they live close by? In the process of the conversation, you might find out that they live in an apartment and they wished they lived in a house. Or, they may have so many children they wish they had a bigger house. Or, they might tell you that one of their children is almost ready to go off to college. You might say, "That's expensive, isn't it? But, I'm sure you're able to afford it." Then they'll proceed to tell you that they're really not able to afford it, or they wish they could afford it. Try to give them leading questions that will make them tell you the thing that they can't do or would like to do if they had more money.
When you discuss the O in FORM and you're talking to them about their occupation, always say to them, "You're so good at this. I bet you love it." It's amazing how often you will say that to someone and they will tell you what they hate about the job. If you say you bet they hate it, they'll tell you what they love. People are so funny. So, always talk about them loving what they are doing. Let them give you reasons that they don't love it.
When you get to the R in FORM for recreation, ask them what they like to do for fun. Maybe they'll say they like to fish. You might ask them what kind of boat they have. These are leading questions. They might say they don't have a boat but wish they did. You then come back with a question that allows them to share with you what kind of boat they would love to have if they had one.
Now for the M in FORM---the message.
If you are talking to someone you know, don't deliver the message about your business at the same time you are collecting your information. My advice is that you deliver it either later that day or the next morning. I teach a specific invitation for people you know which I call my Direct Approach. It can be used quite effectively here. Call them and say, "Hey, I've only got a moment, but I've been thinking about our conversation yesterday. You told me you wanted to send your kids to college, or you told me you hated your job, or you told me you wanted a bigger house, or you told me you wanted a fishing boat." (This depends on the "want" you have selected as the primary "want", the best "hot button" for this person.) Then you say, "Were you serious, or were you just kidding around?" (They say they're serious.) Then say, "I think I've got a way you can have it. I can't go into it now, but I'll be back out in your area next week. Why don't we get together over a coke, or over lunch? I'd love to run an idea past you." It makes them think that the only reason that you called them was because of your prior conversation.
What if You Don't Know the Person?
Now let me give you the scenario for a person you don't know. Where do you meet strangers? You meet them everywhere. You meet them at the doctor's office, in bank lines, grocery lines, even on-line. Let's say you're in a doctor's office and you strike up a conversation with someone that you don't know. Maybe you begin talking about this particular doctor. Through that conversation, you might talk to them about where they live. Do they live in this area? Do they have children in the local school system? It is the same kind of conversation you had with the person you knew.
You might ask them what they do for a living. No matter what they say they do, even if they dig ditches, you say, "I bet you love it." And, if they say, "No, I hate it." You're filing away all these "wants" in your head. Then you talk about what they do for fun and how much vacation time they have each year. They might tell you they only get a week off and they can't do anything in a week. You might then ask them what they would do if they had more time off. They might say they like to travel and you'd say, "Me too. Have you ever been to Tahiti or Hawaii?" They might then say, "No, but I'd love to go." These are all "wants". You're talking about family, occupation and recreation. Most people like to talk about themselves if you just ask questions.
Sometimes I even recommend that you do this at every opportunity you have, regardless of whether you deliver the message. You need to practice. I call it scrimmaging. You need to practice talking to people, so you're comfortable talking about family, occupation and recreation. The only difference with a stranger is if you're going to deliver the message, you need to do it on the spot. Don't leave it to chance. Don't rely on the telephone book to have this person's number.
What you should do, though, is wait until the very last minute, when you're about ready to part ways. Use the same direct approach. "Listen, I know we can't talk much longer here because the doctor's calling you (or me) in, but you just said that you hated your job. Were you serious or were you just kidding around? They say, "No, I was serious." Then say, "I think I might have a way to help you. (At this point I might mention the fact that I'm expanding a business but I can't go into it now.) Why don't we exchange business cards or phone numbers? I'll give you a call and maybe we can sit down over a cup of tea. I'd love to run an idea past you." It's the same thing. You use the same direct approach with a stranger. You use your prior conversation to identify a "want". You filed it in your head, and at the last minute you selected what you felt to be the best "hot button" for this particular person.
FORM is a wonderful tool, and you should be using it in all conversations as you're out and about meeting people every day. Practice until it becomes natural.
The Balance Company has everything we need to create everything we want. Be clear about why you're doing this and then create a specific plan to get there. If you don't have a plan make one. You have a whole team of people here laser focused on your success.
Take advantage of it all our resources and make 2007 the year that changed your life!
If you haven't logged into your back office recently that's step one. The recorded calls with Sue and Jon that have already helped people on our team sponsor more people. There are recorded calls you can send prospects to and brochures you can print out.

If you're serious you should be studying everything in the tool box and more than once. I can't do that for you.
I look forward to seeing you at the top!

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Permalink Reply by Tony Rush on February 18, 2008 at 7:11am

Ah, the "F.O.R.M." method! First popularized by Amway, I believe.

Despite its popularity, I've never had anyone use it on me in a way that was natural or casual. I've had lots of Amway reps over the years who've tried to strike up a conversation with me using this method and it always came across as hopelessly contrived an artificial, even if the person was smooth and professional.

I'm not trying to poo-poo the advice Chris is passing along....just adding my two cents that NATURALNESS is the key. If you wouldn't normally strike up a conversation with a stranger and start asking about his family, his occupation, etc......then doing it in a prospecting scenario is probably going to look even more unnatural.

The truth is there is no "Magic Line" for face-to-face prospecting. Just talk to people. If the conversation leans toward business or product, then go with your gut in the way you decide to bring it up.

Tony

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Permalink Reply by Rashmi Mehta on April 10, 2008 at 1:17pm

The best way I get started is "Hi, how are u doing, how's your job." Most people answer "fine, good "etc. Then my next line is So, enjoying life, man lucky u" At this point most people start cribbing.....

Here's my opportunity.And then instead of starting off at my opportunity, I say I was in the same shape, a couple of years ago, but now with God's grace, things are far better today, almost in control. Most importantly I dont carry with me the constant fear of being laid off or being fired etc.tomorrow.

Here I have created enough curiosity and then when he urges me to tell me more about it, I ask him for his contact details and tell him that I have to go somewhere urgently and that i would call him later. Most of the time this strategy works wonders.

regards rashmi

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