I was out with a friend and her kids. One is in boy scouts, and the other is in girl scouts.
I have to be honest…I didn’t even think these two organizations even existed. I think I was in boys scout for like a couple of months. I vaguely remember having a pocket knife and doing some work on soap. -_-
So I went out with them, and they setup outside our local Walmart. It was nice to see them try and sell their cookies, popcorn, and other stuff.
I have to admit that they did pretty good…selling about $500 in about 2-1/2 hours in the hot grueling sun…it made me think of my own sales efforts, and building businesses.
On the way home I was thinking about the kids and how the adults reacted to them. It was funny…I mean they were so uncomfortable with saying NO to them.
I even saw this man go out of his way to walk to another entrance.
I mean he saw them selling and made a complete 180 and went in the opposite direction.
Everyone was polite, but they also gave every reason in the book to not give them money.
I mean the stories these people came up with were incredible. The stories they told were so elaborate that they could be on prime time TV.
I wish they would’ve told them no…it would’ve been good for them. This kind of reminds me of giving kids participation awards. It makes no sense.
In the real world, when selling, no matter how good your cause, product, or service is (or no matter how cute and young you are) people (and the world as a whole) don’t owe you anything. Whoever you’re selling to has to have a reason to want your product or service.
Most people who donated or bought cookies, candies, etc. from the kids said they did it because they remember being in clubs and organizations like that growing up. A good amount even said that their children had been scouts, and would talk about the good memories they had and wanted to help. Hell even I donate to some of these kids just because I think of my nieces, nephews, and little cousins.
The ones who gave got a feeling of nostalgia, feelings of doing good for kids (always a winner), and also I believe maybe a little guilt/remorse about something and the need for some absolution.
Another thing that I appreciated is that even when these kids heard no (ranging from flat out No, to elaborate lies) they learned that even if someone values your product service, they might not be in a position to buy at that moment.
They could be low on cash or have already bought from a competitor.
Those kids heard a lot of “nos”, yet they just kept on asking people, and were so excited when someone eventually said yes.
Like my nephew who will harass me until I give in and give him what he wants, and then he is so happy and excited that it almost makes me feel good about giving in.
These kids learned a valuable lesson that you have to hear a lot of “nos” before you ever get someone to tell you “yes”. This is something that all CEOs, Founders, Presidents, and Executives learned in building their careers and empires.
Something that these kids need to learn the earlier the better.
Do the right things and tell these kids no, more often and make them earn that yes. Otherwise you’re setting them up for failure in the future.