I’ve been shedding lately – got guidance earlier this year that it was time to reduce my collection of material goods, open up some space and change things up a bit. So I went through my closets, my bookshelves and the other little nooks and crannies around the house that collect stuff that once upon a time seemed like a great thing to acquire.
I did a pretty great job – even digging out the bone china cup and saucer collection that was started for me when I was born – dozens of intricately patterned, delicate works of art, never used once and stashed away in boxes for at least the last 25 years! I amassed a good 15 –20 bankers boxes for the big event and because I’m a mom who wants to teach my child about work, money, negotiating and the rewards that come from stick-to-itiveness I made a deal. “You can have all the money from the yard sale – as long as you get up and man the operation for the day” (pretty darn good deal for him I’d say since I was the one who gathered everything up and got it all ready to go) “but – if you give up and leave it to me to go out there and do the selling then I get all the money for the day’s efforts.” We made the deal – at 15 3/4 finding ways to get ahold of some big cash can sometimes be a bit of a challenge!
The big day dawned – clear and bright – Mom and son went down the street with our signage, and then came back to get the tables set up and the stuff out of the garage. Let me tell you something about yard sales – the SECOND you put out the signs people start to show up and want to buy stuff! (Hint for you evolving entrepreneurs out there – are you putting out your signs?) We had at least a dozen people on the driveway before we even had the tables set up! By the time everything was out on display I think the kiddo had already pocketed $40.00!
Our signs said Yard Sale – Saturday – 9 – 4 and by 12:15 the boy was beginning to get a bit hot – and grumpy – since he hadn’t slept most of the night before because his buddies were hanging out with him for a sleepover (why do they call it a sleepover – who actually sleeps??) By then close to $200 in cash had been generated – and the natives were restless. Him: “Can’t we just be done?” Me: “Nope- the signs say 9 – 4 – it’s only 12:30 and we’re not sold out by any stretch of the imagination – the deal was you take care of this yard sale til it’s over or all the cash belongs to me!”
Now I have to tell you a little something about my boy – I think he’s probably a magician – an energy master in his own right – naturally ordained – or maybe it’s in the genetics – because every time he wants things to change in his favor – somehow – magically – the circumstances shift and before you know it he has what he wants! Don’t you know about 10 minutes after our conversation about packing it in for the day – dark clouds started to gather and the sound of thunder could be heard in the distance (could he be a weather shaman perhaps?). After a look at the threatening skies I knew that we better get the stuff in to the garage or we’d end up with a sloppy, soggy, soaked mess of junk that nobody would want and I’d end up having to make several trips to the dump instead of the bank!
The boys started getting everything into the garage while I ran down the street to bring in the signs. JUST IN TIME!! We got the last box in and the skies opened – pouring down rain and cutting the day short due to weather. I think he made about $250 in 3 1/2 hours – not a bad take for a short morning’s worth of negotiation and some box hauling!
Every weekend following I suggested that he do it again to get rid of the remaining stuff and make some more cash – I put a deadline of the end of June on getting the rest of the goods out the door – either by sale or by donation. The boy didn’t bite – his big take was apparently lasting a while so he wasn’t so hungry. Finally on the last weekend of June I woke him up – got him some breakfast and went to put out the signs. By the time I got back – Mr. Man had gone back to sleep! So there I was with the pile of people already lining up wanting to lookie lou and me with a bunch of boxes in the garage! So I hauled out the stuff myself and within about an hour and half had generated close to another $100.
Then, the big fish arrived!! Unexpectedly – out of the blue – some one pulls up and asks if I have a table for sale. Now when the Spirit moved me to originally do some purging I had decided that the time had come for me to release my office furnishings and re-configure my workspace to be FAR more comfortable, welcoming and joyful for me to inhabit. So when he asked – I invited him in and showed him the big glass conference table – and happened to also mention that the desk, rolling file, bookshelf, and utility/printer stand were available too. We made a rock bottom awesome deal – $300 and pick it up by the following Friday.
I was THRILLED – a $400 day – It was only around 1 pm and I decided that I’d close up shop because it was beautiful out and I wanted to enjoy the sunshine and maybe get a bit of yard work in too. The following day I tore apart the office to get ready for the guy to come and to re-organize so I could work. The day after that I got some help to get half the office furniture out to the garage. The day after that the rest made it’s way out there (helps to have strong young men visiting the house on regular basis – a little food and you can get a lot of muscle to work for you!) The day after that I settled into my new office space and since I hadn’t yet heard from the guy called to leave him a message to check in on when I’d see him on Friday. He didn’t call back. Thursday rolled around and I called again – this time I got him – he said he’d give me a call Friday after he got paid to let me know when he could come – and that it’d probably be Saturday instead. Friday dawns – I’m waiting……no call. Saturday – I got back on the phone because I had plans and wanted to know when he was coming by to get his new furnishings.
It’s Wednesday now. I still have the furniture. I don’t have the money. What’s the lesson here? Until you have the $ in your hand – it’s not a sale! Be clear – don’t waste your energy chasing after something that isn’t real. When someone REALLY wants what you have to offer – they will pay for it – right away – willingly, eagerly and they’ll get going and take action to take in to their lives whatever it is they are exchanging money energy with you for. When someone REALLY wants what you have to offer they will be chasing after YOU for it! Then you have a SALE!! So put out your signs – be ready for a few lookie lous, negotiate a win win deal for everyone involved, GET THE MONEY IN YOUR HANDS, deliver the goods or services, and then remember to say thank you of course – nice doing business with you Mr. Office Furniture Man – I appreciate the Blessing in Disguise that you offered to me. I’ll remember this again and again when I’m talking to prospective clients and I’m betting that the value I’ll receive from this experience will far outweigh the initial $300.00 that I would have received otherwise!
Do you ever “chase” after your clients? If so you might want to change things up a bit – put out your signs, and let them come to you and remember Mr. Office Furniture Man before you go rearranging things to accommodate an illusion!
Here’s a sign for you – this month we opened the doors on our newest offering Step by Step to Superior Self Care for the Empowered Messenger – we’re pretty pumped about it over here but you’re going to have to decide for yourself if it’s right for you. We’d love to have you check out the goods in our “online” showroom located here: http://www.askingyourselfthebigquestions.com We’ve even posted the free preview call to give you a taste up front of what you can expect if you decide you’d like to receive some service from us.
If it’s right for you – you’ll KNOW it and you’ll RUSH to press that magic button to place your order. If not – thanks for coming by and checking things out – maybe our next offer will be the one for you – so we’ll remind you to check back again when we put out the signs for what’s next!
Oh and by the way – we do welcome comments here on this blog! When you give us feedback we are better able to know what serves you!
