This happened to me on Saturday. I had just stepped out of my house and was walking down the street when I saw what I took to be a new neighbor, standing outside of his house, smoking a cigarette. After Jerry and I shook hands and said hello, we had this conversation:
Jerry: Do you need any yard work or gardening done? I could do that and I don’t charge much.
Me: No, I’m renting my house and they already have a gardener.
Jerry: How about hauling or other work? You might need that, being old and everything.
Me (smiling): No Thanks. But ask my neighbors, they own their houses so maybe they could use your help.
Jerry: OK, well let them know, OK?
If you’re going to attempt to sell something to me, make sure your selling point isn’t something I’d find insulting or at the least not true.
And if I offer you help in identifying sales prospects, don’t thank me by asking me to do more work for you.
