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What can we learn from a Girl Scout selling cookies door to door?

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty LLC 200311024

My daughter is a Girl Scout, and has been for a few years now, and I must say a little competitive at times... I don't know where she got that. (LOL) But, what does she do that I need to do more of? Learn the word "NO" isn't really a negative thing, it is just an objection that you can overcome with perseverance.

You see when she goes door to door, she is told "No, I've already bought some cookies." But, does she turn around and walk away? Nope, she just smiles and says great, then you know you like the cookies, why not buy some extras for your freezer so you can enjoy them year round, until I come around next year.

Most people smile and buy a box from her. Why? Because she didn't accept no and gave them a reason they hadn't thought of. She overcame their objection instead of giving up! How many buyers or sellers have given you a small objection and you just turned and gave up instead of offering them an alternative. Why not find a solution to their objection, which is usually very small and can help them reach their goal.

Thank you, Girl Scouts, for giving my daughter and I both the strength not to accept "No" as a final answer, just as another objection to overcome.

 

 

Comments(26)

Charity Lane
O'Brien Realty - Prince Frederick, MD
Great sales person! I would love to add her to my team when she hits 18!
Mar 03, 2008 01:05 PM
Candy Henthorne
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring Texas Real Estate

Todd - She is a winner all right!  She must have a great attitude as well.

Mar 03, 2008 01:08 PM
Tom Braatz Waukesha County Real Estate 262-377-1459
Coldwell Banker - Oconomowoc, WI
Waukesha County Realtor Real Estate agent. SOLD!

Todd

Always be prepared.

Sincerely

Tom braatz

Mar 03, 2008 01:28 PM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate
Don't ya just love this time of year?  Those Girl Scouts are pretty persistent, and as you stated, can overcome obstacles. 
Mar 03, 2008 03:38 PM
Debbie Malone
Londeree's Real Estate & Property Management - Lynchburg, VA
From Lynchburg To The Lake (434) 546-0369
Todd, I think this is a great exercise for kids to take on- marketing door to door. Great experience for later on in the working world. BTW, just send her to my neighborhood. No one in my family says no, I think I've bought 8 boxes this year!LOL!
Mar 03, 2008 11:50 PM
Fran Gaspari
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Todd,

I think she probably learned a little about 'objection handling' from her dad, what do you think!!! Thanks,   Fran

Mar 04, 2008 12:51 AM
Brian Kreick
Willinger Real Estate - Wenatchee, WA
Thats a great lesson that she learned.  When my daughters are at that age they will both become girl scouts.  A lesson like this will stick with someone for their entire life.
Mar 04, 2008 01:46 AM
Anita Lewicki
Prudential First Properties - Fayetteville, NY
e-PRO

That is really a good story.. and being an old girl scout my self. I remember my Mom telling me the story of the time that I had some boxes of cookies to sell, so she took me to the local bank were I stood out the door and asked people who came out.. I had asked this one man to buy a box and he said "no" and I in turn said..." I know you just cashed your check" so why not bring home a box of cookies to your wife.. you got the money...I was only 8 years old..kind of don't remember that fully..but.. I could see my self saying that.. LOL

And further more we can all learn from our kids.. they do not take no for an answerer.. think about it the next time they ask for something and you say no..do they just walk out of the room??? no... they don't ..

 

Mar 04, 2008 01:46 AM
Jesse Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK
This is great... She had the perfect response.  Getting past buyer/seller objections is just as easy if you're prepared.  Great story.
Mar 04, 2008 06:03 PM
Atlanta's Home Inspector, David Lelak IHI Home Inspections
IHI Home Inspections 404-788-2581 - Canton, GA
Experience the IHI Difference

Todd,  great post and it shows the power of always being ready with an answer.  Sounds like she's a winner!

 

Mar 05, 2008 01:13 AM
Benjamin Clark
Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - Salt Lake City, UT
Buyer's Agent - Certified Negotiation Expert

I agree that persistence and perseverance are good abilities to develop. I would also suggest that sometimes continuing forward to the next "Yes" can be more productive and healthier than spending twice as much time dragging an unenthusiastic "yes" from the first contact.

Perseverance sometimes means being told "No" and being able to make the next contact with the same enthusiasm you had before the last contact.

We have all been pestered and annoyed by salespeople who just won't take no for an answer. I wouldn't want my sons or daughters to become like them, but like you, I do want them to learn persistence and perseverance regarding the project or goal as a whole.

Over the years I have had more fun and have received more referrals and repeat business from those clients who enthusiastically wanted to work with me than with those I had to convince to work with me.

Today, I work exclusively with the enthusiastic clients. Most of them are referrals from past clients who I didn't have to use any persistence or perseverance with. Could I have persevered and persisted more with some potential clients? Could I have possibly convinced them to work with me? Sure. But quality of life and enjoyment of one's profession often has a lot to do with who you associate with regularly (i.e. who your clients are). I highly value enjoying my job and enjoying my clients.

Sometimes it is better (for both of you) to let some people go.

Mar 05, 2008 04:34 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Audrey - Exactly, so when do we get that fear and why?

Jim or Maria - I'll thank her for teaching me and given me the opportunity to learn!

Apr 09, 2009 11:21 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Missy - I can only hope to have her on my team when she gets older, I think she will out sell me any day of the week.

Eric - She had last years orders? DANG, That is an organized little brownie!

Apr 09, 2009 11:22 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Jimmy - I wish I knew, when and where I lost it!

Dan - I am going to do the same with my daughter when she turns 17! Get her in school and hte day she turns 18 have her take the test!

Apr 09, 2009 11:26 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Charity - You will have to fight me for her - lol

Candy - She does, she is one of the happiest kids I know, unless she is doing her math homework, she hates it! Wonder where she gets that (MOM)

Apr 09, 2009 11:30 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Tom - I swore, she had rehearsed that line in her head a thousand times waiting for that response!

Kathy - And the cookies are so good!

 

Apr 09, 2009 11:32 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Debbie - Our neighbor alone ordered 15 boxes from her!

Fran - Don't know what you are talking about - lol

Apr 09, 2009 11:33 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Brian - It will be the best bonding and learning experience of their lives, you are so smart to enroll them in the program.

Anita - I know they don't say no, they actually are getting creative and learning to not ask yes or no questions.

Apr 09, 2009 11:35 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Jesse or Kathy - She certainly was and I don't know how she came up with that!

David - She really is my little winner!

 

Apr 09, 2009 11:37 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Benjamin - She did it with such humor and wasn't going to press it any farther, that they had to say yes!

Apr 09, 2009 11:39 PM