Positive Thoughts from a Blackout Survivor
By Ann Barr 18-Aug-03
Could anything good possibly come out of a power outage that affected 50 million people? Yes - if you read the email from a sales person who was in an elevator when the power went out in New York City on Thursday.
800 Stalled Elevators
After the massive power outage on August 14th, rescue workers in New York City hacked and pried their way into 800 stalled elevator cars, mostly in pitch-black buildings.
One sales person – Janice – emailed to say:
“After an appointment on Thursday in one of the tall buildings in New York City, I stepped into the elevator and seconds after the door closed, the power went out. There were four other people in the elevator and all of us immediately thought of 9-11-01. It was a very scary moment.
“Then, we decided to try and make the best of the situation. We introduced ourselves and exchanged business cards (I was so glad I had plenty with me) and one person became a hero by producing a small flashlight that was attached to her key chain. Then and there I decided that was the first purchase I would make after we got out of the elevator. That pen light was the only bright spot we had for about an hour – until the batteries died.
“We talked about our businesses for a while and I remembered – and used - the ‘elevator statement’ in your book ‘102 Tips for Profitable Telephone and Direct Mail Marketing.’”
Surprising Benefits
“Fortunately, we were rescued an hour later, so we only spent two hours trapped in the elevator. We were luckier than many other people. Later on, we learned the power outage wasn’t the result of terrorism. It was an annoying inconvenience, but there were some surprising benefits: I realized I needed to be better prepared in the event of another blackout.”
Don’t Leave Home Without It
Janice said the experience taught her to never leave home without three important items:
1. Plenty of business cards because “You never know where you will meet potential prospects.”
2. A flashlight small enough to attach to a key chain. A handy thing to carry anytime – but especially if caught in a power outage, and
3. Spare batteries for the flashlight.
This positive email from Janice was a good reminder for those of us who were lucky enough not to be in the areas affected by the power outages. Thank you, Janice!
Ann Barr is a consultant and sales trainer who conducts Selling Supplies Seminars in the U.S. and Canada. To contact Ann, E-mail to: annbarr@sellingsupplies.com.
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