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In this 2 minute persuasion story you’ll learn how I got Genuine Movie Theater Transformers Badge in just 2 minutes from a reluctant movie theater employee…. for just a buck!
Normally you can’t get Badges like this (to sell on Ebay) for less than $20.
Spot all 7 principles in just 2 minutes and apply these principles to YOUR life and skill set. And remember to check out the Shocking Special at the end too!
As you know from our Ultimate Persuasion Package, if you learn the principles behind the patterns you’ll have much more fun, while being so much more effective. Onward.
So Carol and I got our movie tickets, and we walked over to the ticket taker, the guy who takes the tickets and tells you which theater to go into. It’s a job where no one really takes the time to notice HIM. Most people don’t even say hello.
“Hi James!” First I read his name tag and addressed him by name.
James (half asleep) takes the tickets and tells us which theater to go to.
“James can I ask you a question mate?” Now I’ve got his attention. I’ve used his name twice, and asked him if I can ask him a question. (A very nice mild pattern interrupt.)
“What would it take for me to buy that Transformers Badge from you today mate? A dollar?”
James almost goes into shock. Tells me he’s probably not allowed to sell me the button.
Notice too I asked him the question and gave him the answer. But we didn’t close the sale.
Okay…. I went to the men’s room, pulled out a dollar, and waited 1 minute and then walked back past him.
While James was taking tickets from other people I shoved the dollar bill in his hand and said quietly….
“Here’s the dollar mate. I really don’t care if I get the Badge or not, it’s worth giving you a dollar to see if I can get it for my grandkid. Grab yourself a coke mate, thanks.” 
So almost 2 hours later, after the movie (we didn’t see the Transformers btw, I just want the nice shiny badge.) James was waiting outside our theater door, and he palmed me the badge as we were leaving. Sweet.
Now…. Of course it isn’t about the badge, it’s about a few things. James had as much fun as I did, maybe more, he got a dollar, he got to be sneaky, and he got to make my day too.
PS: Father’s day special! Sunday and Monday! Get the Ultimate Persuasion Package - Click here for just $79 bucks! That includes more than $500 of our proven products, kick arse recordings, that you can instantly download today. And Carol will ship your entire collection to you on a backup mp3 disk too.
Posted on June 17th, 2007 by Twenty Twenty - John Wingert
Filed under: Articles
You can always tell that so many younger folks working in the service industry are totally bored and on autopilot. Most people approach them in the same way. When I break their pattern I first tend to see a little resistance, but then you can catch their interest, perhaps let them smile and laugh.
I’ve always done this when I go to a cafe. I’ve done this in cafes all over the world, the ones I frequent more than once. And the place become my place. All the employees call me by name when I show up, even yell it out with a smile. My drink is done before I even make it to the register no matter how busy. Now, this was never my intention. All I wanted to do is break their pattern of misery allow them to have a little fun. Then whenever I showed up the anchor was set and I didn’t even need to do anything.
Where does “Grab yourself a Coke mate, thanks.” come in? The intention wasn’t for him to really get a Coke, but permission to allow himself to have fun, right?
Allen
Oh man! I started tearing I was chuckling so much reading your 7 persusaion move theater story. No idea what a transformer badge was but your “tactics” were brilliant because you took the “manipulation” out of the persuasion, but kept the efficacy of creating change. Nice moves, John Wingert. That’s awesome. You created an “opportunity” for “James” and left the decision up to him. Most persuasion is about pressuring and jeering and conniving — things I hate doing and are uncomfortable for both parties — your “tricks of the trade” used no such gravity and had all the efficacy! Btw, were are these 7 persuasion principles written up? Are they your steps?
Newbie Coach,
John K