However, I also noticed on the other hand - being a small business operator, that even though I treated my customers “good”, I did so only when they contacted me.

I was kind of a passive recipient. And that business never took of that much, even though most of my clients were very happy with what I delivered.

Instead of following up with them… I waited for THEM to contact me… without any reminder from my side. And most of my clients have been very busy people.

I also noticed another avoidance strategy: at one point I’d notice that this customer wouldn’t call me again, even though they were obviously very happy last time (I knew that because they told me and provided me with very generous tips). And I wondered: should I call them? Nah, I said to myself - I don’t want to seem pushy. And besides, if contacting them would be the right thing, I should have done so three weeks ago. Now it’s too late already.

Looking back it’s so obvious that I was bullshitting myself to stay in my comfort zone. But it’s still a lesson that sometimes I need to talk with people who know business and are willing to give me some honest feedback.

And more than that - I learned to care more about my customers and to take a very proactive approach to caring about them. So that every contact I have with them leaves them in a better emotional state than the one they experienced immediately before they had contact with me.

First, I’d like to say I think you’re a great teacher and philosopher of copy and life, please don’t go anywhere. I’ve recently lost almost everything except for my 2 beautiful children. I hit the rocks in this game of life with some bad business decisions. My wife had seen enough and booted me. I can’t really blame her, but I do. She wanted a more stable life, I don’t really know that kind. I’m keeping a positive out look, I must for my kids. I’ve stopped thinking about the past, and previous mistakes that brought me to my big speed bump. I just think ahead to an exciting new career.

Anyway, I have two Questions, first: I’ve always loved business and I’ve had some success in the past on a small level, and I’m not an idiot, so do you have any tips on starting a Marketing Consulting business targeting small local businesses. I truly have that “gun to the head” mentality. Im 45 and I have to bounce-back big and fast. My second Q is: I’m immersing myself in direct marketing and copywriting the past few months, doing what you and Gary say. I really can’t afford any of the products you guys sell at this moment. I bought all the classic books and study and copy them. I must do this on a shoe-string. I cut off everything, Success is my only option, failures not. So this means no girlfriends, no SEX, (that ones a killer) no TV. Nothing but studying this interesting career, and taking time for my kids and I cut that back as well. I’m banking everything on what you and Sir Gary Halbert proclaim…that if you become very good at direct marketing and copywriting…(there will be “99 Beautiful Virgins” waiting for me. Ok, Ok I’m a little horny at this point.) plenty of lucrative work out there. I know it won’t happen over-night and it will be a lot of and is hard work

Please fill me in if there are any other requirements. I haven’t much money left and feel this is my last shot at the true American dream. Going to work at my age for some one else is a thought that keeps that “gun to the head” mindset.

Regards,
Joe C.

P.S.
I’m listening to the Allman Brothers CD ‚Äúa decade of hits‚Äù right now, is that not an ass-kicken 16 tunes CD?

I started getting inbound email messages by the boatload about my “invalid rebate dates” and how they were all invalid. Since we were talking about $300 in rebates, I tried the email service people and they expressed that this was a computer bug and that it would be resolved in a matter of three days– not to worry………

I continued to get email notifications about my invalid rebate dates at least five per day just to remind me of how incompetent they are. Since my email was not resolving the problem, I waded into phone hell and called the customer service line. At first they just assured me that it would be taken care of soon, and not to worry…………

Finally after three weeks of not fixing the rebates, I got on the phone and they told me that the rebates department was outsourced and that they were unable to solve the problem with the software, so my option was to return the stuff because my rebates were not gonna happen. After telling him that I couldn’t believe that the CEO of Staples would really want to allow the outsourced rebate department to throw away a good sale (and a great office supplies customer) in this competitive environment (OfficeMax, OfficeDepot, plus all the big box electronics stores like Best Buy)…………

I was assured that the CEO was aware of the problem and that there was nothing else that could be done to make the rebates work right. I told them to pick the stuff up. After ten days, they finally came and got it yesterday……………

They are imbeciles as far as customer service goes.