Today, I came across a very helpful story that really resonates with me and that I’d like to share with you. It carries a very important lesson that can help you with all areas of your life…
It’s written by Allen Says who runs a very popular Internet marketing forum amongst many other sites and businesses. Allen is someone who I have great respect for and admire his ability to help others.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this story too.
Washington DC was nasty as could be. As I sat on the bench waiting for my bus to arrive I couldn’t wait to get back to the backwoods of Louisiana. I had almost sat in a pool of blood that was on the far end of the bench and I was ready to go. I truly hope people coming to visit our country don’t make DC one of their stops.
Anyway, before my bus arrived I was approached by a nicely dressed elderly gentleman in need of directions. I told him I had no idea what he was looking for as I too was just passing through. To this day I’m not sure why, but we started talking as if we had known each other for years.
We talked about life, people and eventually the conversation turned to business. It was here that the gentlemen saw something in me, I suppose, that made him feel like sharing what he said was the greatest secret ever told. He said everyone had heard it but almost no one paid any attention to it, even though it was the one thing that could bestow a fortune upon any man or woman who used it.
My ears where definitely starting to perk up. Something about his tone told me this man knew from whereof he spoke. And I wanted to know what the secret was with a passion. He must have sensed my anxiousness because at that very moment he gave me a warning that was almost a scolding.
I’ll try to recount here as best I can the rest of our conversation…
Man: “Do not make the mistake of shrugging off what I am about to tell you because you have heard it before. No doubt you have heard it already from at least one person in your life. You may have even heard it many times. Do you have any aversion to religion Mr. Says?”
Me: “No I don’t. I don’t believe many preachers know what they are talking about or even what they are trying to teach, but I do know the Bible has a lot of great knowledge in it.”
Man: “Good. I would not want you to discount what I am about to tell you because it does come directly from the Bible. But its applications reach far beyond what most people can conceive of. It will take thought, intense pondering on your part, to begin to get some inkling of its power.”
“This simple secret, when applied to business, will draw money to you as easily as water runs down a mountain. Even a fool can apply it and prosper. When applied to relationships, it will create more friends than you can handle” (laughing heartily)
Me: “What is it, I’m dying to know now?”
Man: “Patience Mr. Says, Patience. I will not give it to you as it has always been repeated by fools who have no respect or knowledge of what it even means. No. I will give it to you another way.”
“What type of business are you interested in?”
Me: “Well, I’m dabbling in Mail Order right now. I would like to place ads and sell books.”
Man: “Fine. Fine. Mail Order it is. Let me tell you how to create a fortune in this Mail Order. All you have to do is create the product you want to buy”
Me: “I don’t understand”
Man: “You will”
“You see, you are your market. Whatever you want, there are millions of other people wanting the same thing. That elusive product you are looking for is the product millions of others are also looking for right now.”
“All you have to do is create the product you want to buy, the product you yourself have been looking for. Once you have this product, what would you want the sales message to say so that you know this is the product you have been looking for?”
“If someone else where selling this product, what would you want the ad to say, what would get you to buy this product?. When you have that answer, that is the ad you want to create.”
Me: “I see” (hesitantly)
Man: “See the business across the street here? Pizza. I could triple the business that place does inside of 10 minutes. That’s what I do by the way” (smiling)
“All I would do is walk into the business as a customer. I would sit there and imagine all the things that could be done to me that would make me a loyal customer to that business for life. What could they do for me that would make me feel this way?”
“Once I had the answers to that question, I would implement them across the board. Every customer would be treated the way I had imagined. And without any doubt what so ever that business would triple the profits it now makes.”
Me: “I think I know…”
Man: “Wait, you don’t really know anything yet. That’s the problem with people. They brush something off because of where it came from or because they heard it many times. Leave that for fools. You won’t “know it” until you have deeply pondered it and put it to use.”
Me: “Ok”
Man: “What I am telling you has power undreamed of. The simple words used to describe it cannot contain it. Does not do justice to it, and has been prostituted by blabber mouths who let wisdom fall off their lips with not even a single brain cell grasping what they are rambling about.”
“What I am telling you is Law, not man’s Law, but the very Law’s of nature herself. It’s the way things work and those who truly understand it rise to the top in every field known to man.”
“What people don’t understand is that it applies to everything. This secret can be applied with virtually every step you take, everything you do, every word you speak and everyone concerned profits by it.”
“If you are a writer, write like you would like to be written to”
“If you are a salesman, sell like you would like to be sold to”
“If you are a speaker, speak like you would like to be spoken to”
“If you want more love, then love like you would like to be loved”
“If you want more friends, be the friend you would like to see”
“When you infuse everything you do with this secret it takes on a magical power. Businesses dominate the market, books become best sellers, leaders attract huge and loyal followings.”
“How would you like it?”
“How would you respond to it?”
“How would it make you feel?”“Those are great questions to think about every time you do or create something. You will get into the hearts and minds of everyone who comes under your influence if you will first think how you would have it done to you.”
“I’m certain you already know the quote from the Bible I’m referring to. But don’t repeat it, just ponder it and pratice it.”
Me: “I do. But I’ve never thought of how it could actually apply to everything in life. I too was one of those fools who passed it over without so much as a second thought. I really want to thank you for sharing this with me.”
Man: “It’s been a real pleasure talking with you Mr. Says, have a safe journey home.”
———–
And with that, he was gone. The funny thing was, as I was riding home on the bus I realized I never got his name, nor do I remember ever giving him mine. Maybe he saw my luggage tag. I’m not sure. It really doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I’ve profited from that advice for the last 15 years.
I’m not even really any good at it either and I’ve still pulled in huge amounts of money. Especially from the Internet. This is one place this knowledge can really shine. People have always asked me my secret. How come the Warriors is still here, with the same products, with all this competition, after all these years?
This one simple secret is the answer. I always ask myself how would I like to be treated by this company? What would I like to see? What would I like to get? How would I like to be dealt with?
Those simple questions are all you have to answer. When you do get the answers, put them into action and watch what happens.
Create The Site You’ve Been Looking For
Write Like You Would Like To Be Written To
Sell Like You Would Like To Be Sold To
Talk Like You Would Like To Be Talked To
Deal Like You Would Like To Be Dealt With
Create For Others What You Would Like Created For You
Excite Others The Way You Would Like To Be ExcitedTo Your Success,
Allen Says
Although I haven’t mastered this skill myself, I have implemented this practice into some areas of my online business without even knowing it. For instance, take a look at the differences between my Positivity Space letter and my most recent Manifest a Miracle letter. One is written with my sales man hat on, and the other is more conversational and personal (as if I was writing to myself). There’s no surprises as to which letter is more successful either!
If the story above resonates with you as well, I’d highly recommend you take some time out to ponder how you can incorporate this philosophy into all areas of your life as well.
