Comments on: 78-Year Old Bank Teller Foils Robbery

By: 1 Surefire Way to Get Referrals | Increase Sales Coach

1 Surefire Way to Get Referrals | Increase Sales Coach — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:05:05 +0000

[...] get your attention and often prove to be more true than commonly held beliefs. Copywriter Ray Edwards reminded me of this fact when he told a story about how a 78 year old lady stopped a bank robber in [...]

By: Juho Tunkelo

Juho Tunkelo — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:12:40 +0000

Heh! I think you just revealed what my subconscious was reveling in. I swear I didn't do that (completely) consciously. Because after all, today marks the 40th anniversary of Monty Python's Flying Circus! => http://bit.ly/g6lG3

Ni! Ni! Ni! Indeed…

By: Ray Edwards

Ray Edwards — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:12:42 +0000

Now THAT is a great story. “Shrubbery”, indeed. Did the woud-be robber
happen to be one of the Knights Who Say “Nee”?

By: Ray Edwards

Ray Edwards — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:11:09 +0000

Cheryl,

You made my day with your comment. And your observations are on point
about getting referrals. I get lots of referrals – and I never ask for
them.

By: increasesalescoach

increasesalescoach — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:56:13 +0000

Mmmm mmm mmm Ray Edwards at work doing what he does best COPYWRITING.

That fantastic headline just made you click because you had to read the story behind the headline. How could an elderly person foil a bank robber? The headline contradicts a commonly held belief. Elderly people are frail and need protection.

The awesome headline was followed up with a riveting story that tied into the point of the article. Everyone loves a good story. Unfortunately, most of us just can't tell a story as well as you did here.

You make it look so easy. Sorry, but I kind of hate you for that.

Your story reminded me of a similar contradictory point you can make when it comes to getting referrals for your business. I say, "The key to getting referrals is to stop asking for them". That contradicts what every sales person is ever told. Heck, they regularly get beat up for not asking for referrals.

Yet, when you ask for referrals the way most trainers tell you do all you get is stiff resistance, a damaged relationship with the people you ask, and a defensive prospect intent on getting rid of you.

However, you can get all the referrals you want if you simply ask for the right thing (which isn't a referral);-)

By: Juho Tunkelo

Juho Tunkelo — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:42:36 +0000

Heh, that's a great story.

Reminds me of a time when my wife used to work as a bank teller, and some poor douche tried to come in and rob the place. The wannabe robber slid over a (poorly) handwritten note saying “this is a robbery – give me all your money” or something to that effect… only, he'd managed to misspell “robbery” as “shrubbery” (the joke doesn't quite translate as it was in Finnish). So she just burst out laughing, and the robber skulked away from the bank, too embarrassed to carry out the heist.

Anyway, I digress… good points all around – it does take extraordinary energy for most people just to resist the “it's recession, so give up” impulse and then do something worthwhile.

By: Ray Edwards

Ray Edwards — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:52:39 +0000

Two great stories, Mike, both amplifying and proving my point. And your manager's tale should be cautionary for all: we can only claim the behavior we are doing. Saying we “will” or “might” or “could” is mere speculation that often does not stand up under the pressure of the moment.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:50:00 +0000

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By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:50:00 +0000

By: Mike B

Mike B — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:19:16 +0000

Ray
Andrew Reynolds (brit marketer) just told a moving story at his bootcamp in London last weekend about a south african township, which brings any level of excuse into perspective. Most only have a shack, no water or anything we take for granted...no jobs. Nothing. No hope.

Just to feed his family, one enterprising individual began taking refuse - scrap coke cans and the like and turning them into flowers with wire cutters to sell to tourists.

So moved was Andrew he gave the chap an order for 2000 flowers for all the ladies in the audience at the bootcamp, then a couple of months hence.

As for the plucky lady.

Nobody can guess what they will do till it happens......I owned a retail business at one time. Two thugs ran in, one hit me with an axe (im lucky to be here) and the other went for one of my staff with a knife to her throat. Lovely people.

My senior manager and I had discussed the possibility, and she had said "nobody will get past me!" - a kickboxer...yet on the day she ran for cover in the back and locked herself in...

I got out of retail, a year later.