Last Friday we had an interesting discussion.
I ended our discussion by asking a question of you, and challenging you to answer it.
The question…
“Why do I share so many stories and experiences with you”?
After looking at all your responses, you clearly understand why.
When you look at a lot of other people who have online businesses, you’ll immediately notice that the overwhelming majority of their communication is spent trying to sell us stuff.
Now, don’t get me wrong here.
I don’t have anything against selling.
Everyone knows that you’ve got to sell something in order to make income, and if that’s the case, why do I spend so little time trying to sell stuff?
Why in the heck would I concentrate most of my efforts on simply telling stories and sharing experiences, like the one I shared with you yesterday?
And you gotta admit, that was one heck of a story.
How many people do you know like Jeremy, who have been in 24 weddings?
The reason I share so many stories is actually quite simple.
Because you took the time to come to my website, give me your name and email, and ask to hear from me, it means that you obviously thought that I could help you in some way.
But, even at that, when we first started this relationship, you had no idea who I was.
You had no idea if I was for real.
You had no idea if I was qualified to help you.
And that’s because you didn’t know me.
At this point, depending on how long you’ve been with me, all that’s probably changed.
But in the beginning, all of this was true.
So…
The reason I share so many stories and experiences is because I want to give you and I the opportunity to get to know each other.
The way I see it, I have no right to ask you to buy ANYTHING, until you and I have a relationship where you know, like and trust me.
And that being the case, I spend very little time trying to sell stuff.
Instead, I spend the majority of my time building on the relationship that we’ve started.
That being said, I’m going to let you in on another little secret.
Whenever I do tell you about a product or service that I believe you’ll get value from, I ALWAYS get compensated very well.
And rightfully so.
Because we have a relationship, you know I wouldn’t steer you wrong.
When I tell you about a product or service, you know that it must be good, otherwise I wouldn’t waste my time letting you know about it.
You also know that I would never do anything to jeopardize our relationship.
So…
There you have it.
Now you understand why I tell so many stories, and share so many life experiences.
I realize that I’ve been extremely candid here, and some would even say that I was letting the cat out of the box, so to speak.
But hey, that’s how friends treat each other.
Because you own a business too (or aspire to own a business too), I trust that me being this candid will give you some serious insight in how you do things in your business.
Dedicated to your success,
Kevin Thompson
“The Automatic Income Coach”
I enjoy your emails because you don’t try to sell me something. It becomes overwhelming when my inbox is filled with so many emails trying to sell me something. Besides I really like hearing your stories. They makes you human and it lets me know that you are just like me or at least you were like me, just starting out in an Internet business. I only wish that I could afford the products you do offer. But, I have declared 2010 as my year of action, so I will be purchasing products to help me acquire clients for my information brokerage business.
Thank you for being kind and helpful in my journey to making money online.
Angela Carter
Coastal Computerized Information Services
Savannah, GA
912-224-4597
Hey Kevin,
You’re on the right track. One thing that turns me off is the stories of how dirt poor they were until they discovered some secret that will make me dirt poor if I spend money buying it.
Another that I don’t buy is the expensive upgrade that is offered after you have bought their product that is supposed to solve all your problems. Why should you need anything more?
Finally those who send you a sample product for just the cost of shipping and the next month you find your credit card billed for $89.98 for the next monthly shipment which you didn’t order. When you investigate they tell you it’s right there in the terms agreement.
Yeah it was, but hidden in the fine print so carefully you didn’t see it.
OK I’m off my soap box and I’ll keep you on my list. I appreciate your honesty.
George W
Growing up, we (my cousins and I) were not allowed to voice certain words, much less direct them at each other or other people; they were “bad” words. I remember being punished, for example, for saying “darn.” Another one of the worst of these–in my eight-year-old perception, at least–was “liar,” as used any time a person was not being truthful. Now in those pre-TV days, one of our favorite ways of entertaining ourselves was by telling each other stories, often describing actual happenings as seen through our young eyes and individual interpretations. So these stories were not, in essence, altogether “true.” Hence, when we children caught each other or anyone telling an untruth, we screamed, “You’re just a big storyteller!”
Opens up a whole ‘nother perspective on your principle, n’est-ce pas?
Hey kevin! That’s the thing! People are always sale,sale,sale and that what they teach you to do!But what gets me the scam artiss that get you to try there product or system free for 10-14 days and all you pay is Shipping, and your waiting for what ever they was to send you which takes 5-10 days to get to Ya! they charge your card! Than when you call about why they charge you befor your Trial was up, Ho well your Trial started the day you signup! What a big ripoff!
Thanks for the comments you guys.
George and Timothy have obviously had first-hand experience with the kind of business owner I was talking about.
The ones who are always trying to sell stuff, and in Timothy’s case, the ones who are doing so unethically.
Sad thing is, there’s plenty of money to be made by operating your business in an ethical manner.
Not only that, people tend to like you better when you’re ethical.
They also tend to talk about you, and refer you to friends and family.
Kevin,
Most of the time I open your emails because I know I will get something of value from your story. As a work at home mom I really enjoy when you post videos of the best little challenges (very cute kids by the way) of working at home!
This was a great post full of useful, applicable information! Thank you for sharing and I look forward to more.
Mary Thayer
I must say yes,intrigued was what I would use when I first come to your site.Kevin I liked Honesty I BECAME A FRIEND BY TRUST. MY life has taken a journey that many would say Not much happened for I do not discuss my past now, that is over the memories stayed for years, so much Grief/Sadness and pain from then has taken till now to feel I love all of who I am that hasn’t been easy. However I am still here to have fun laugh more often enjoy the light that I am, Many people have scars, mine were hidden my heart broken so long Now I still have tears however I feel they are good.I love passionately all that I see and do. My Life is amazing or has been thus far amazing but always on to new things to grow. Have a wonderful day Estelle
Hello Kevin. I agree with you 100% I also believe that the best way to become sucessfull in any business, is by building a “SINCERE” relationship with everyone. You must be a trustworthy friend, before anything else. Not only that, you MUST “DO WHAT YOUR SAYING” NOT just say what your doing. I am in the business of helping people. Although I truely hope, that people never have to sell their future incomes. I realize sometimes people don’t have a choice. I know when they do, it’s because they “NEED the MONEY”. I do what I do to HELP PEOPLE, not to rob them. Building trust & friendships is about being honest & a good friend that is trustworthy, not to take advantage. I thank you big time for all your thoughts, help & education. I enjoy reading everything you have to offer & will continue to do so. You are very inspiring, & I thank you, for being who you are.
Well, I don’t see any difference between just selling stuff or telling people a nice story before selling them stuff. It actually makes me only suspicious whether these stories are true or not and it gives me the feeling that I cannot believe anything any more, because basically, behind everything is the interest of selling. I have learnt that it is best to always judge for myself, whether a product is good for me in this moment or not, no matter who offers it to me. I have actually lost faith in the idea of “true friendship in the business world”. Building relationships with the hidden purpose that selling will be easier once the relationship is established gives me a very ambivalent feeling. So, I like to read or hear the stories, but it really doesn’t make me more trusting with respect to buying stuff. For example, that Woodbridge club stuff you sent was weird (no?) and I would probably not even trust my mother with it.
I like stories and that’s the reason why I keep coming back here. Your stories are great and I’ve learned a lot from them. About that Woodbridge Club stuff, yes it’s a bit weird and I was beginning to doubt you until I got an email from them which gave me an idea. As Napoleon Hill said:” All achievements, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea.” So thanks! I hope you will continue to help other people!
Joseann makes some interesting comments, and I couldn’t resist responding.
What we’re talking about here is not using stories with the hidden purpose of selling.
Heck, if that were the case, we wouldn’t be having this conversation at all.
As you can see by this blog post, the previous blog post, and all the comments made in reply, we’re talking about using stories to create a relationship and a connection with other people.
Why?
Because no one cares about you, no one cares about me, and they certainly don’t care about the products or services we have to offer… UNTIL they know that we have empathy for them and are qualified to help them.
The way we accomplish this is to build a relationship.
The best way to build a relationship with someone is by sharing personal stories and experiences.
This is how we get to know people.
And yes, it certainly helps if you aren’t full of B.S. and trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes.
That kinda defeats the purpose of building a relationship in the first place.
As far as the “Woodbridge Club Stuff”, I understand that it’s not a right fit for everyone.
But for others (Maria and myself included), it is a right fit.
I agree with Roseann and although I understand what Kevin is saying, it still leaves some doubts in my mind. Perhaps an underlying reason is the underlying belief I have about selling. I do not like selling and I have not been an advocate of any selling practices, forums, or schools.
I have heard many times people tell me, ‘you are a Vet use it to sell yourself!’ To me this always sounded disgusting to my ears!
I have received thousands of e-mails in recent years persistently dragging you until they find a way to ‘break your resistance barrier’. I have resisted until now, until I listened to Kevin’s seminar.
Even the so call “mind health” sites, use these same tactics. I am an old believer of ‘mind power’ I quickly lose respect for the entrepreneurs who ‘continually’ sound ‘honest’ to you but in fact they are not.
However, I am ‘in tune’ with Kevin’s system and I feel some honesty there we can use without leaving ‘honesty’ in a dumpster when one gets some results and hence replacing ‘honesty’ with ‘greed’.
Like I told Kevin before, “I have not found the starting line yet’, and until I do, I will know whether this honesty persists as a belief within me — if it does not then it is not for me.
Do not get me wrong though! I have a personal reason for wanting to make thousands of dollars, and I am willing to try a system that does not ’sell anything in my mind’ If this is not possible, the closest I can use is a system that balances both of my beliefs.
After looking for three years, I have found Kevin’s system to be the one that satisfies what I am looking for.
All I need at this point is HELP! to find the ’starting line”.
Aj Salazar
Thank you kindly Kevin for being the real deal
without alot of hype and empty promises. I enjoy
your stories and thanks for keeping in touch all
these years.
Hey Kevin,
I,’m verclempt, did you not get my almost novel of a responce? If not I sorry.
It was great tee hee, kidding, but I did try to put my best foreward as always,
when there’s anything involving a friend.
Fondly, Kim Milbrandt
Kevin:
One of the most powerful tools a writer can use is one which gets the reader to identify with the main subject or purpose about which the piece is being written. That, in essence, is the main reason why “story-telling” works as well as it does. Because the stories are so familiar, (or told in such a way as to make them seem so) they go a long way in helping to strengthen the relationship that has automatically been formed.
Thank you for the notes; please keep ‘em coming!
Allen Crites
I saw that reply Kim…it was creepy.
Hi Kevin, I do believe that the best way to become successful is by building relationships first. This is how I became involved with you. However, you win some
and you lose some and that is just life. Keep doing what you are doing Kevin,
in my opinion you are doing a great job. You are very successful and that should
tell you someting that you are doing is right.