My passion of collecting anecdotes and experiences was unexpectedly rewarded today with a very unusual story. Here it goes:
Amit works for an old, respectable and conservative financial-services organization, helping people with investment counselling and management in certain parts of Mumbai city as well as rural Maharashtra.
On one of his cold-calling visits, he meets up with a prospect in one of the smaller towns.
Whatever else, rural folks, you’d know if you’ve dealt with them, are quite sharp in their assessment of whom they’re interacting with. So, when Amit introduces himself and his org and explains the purpose of his visit, this man hears him out patiently, asks a few questions and finally says:
‘Look young man, all this is fine. I have heard about your org. No issues there. But I don’t know you at all. You pop up suddenly before me from nowhere and expect me to discuss my finances with you? You’ve no references that I know of, to recommend you.’
Amit digs into his bag.
‘Don’t bother showing me your customer letters. Unless it’s from some one I know, I trust…’
Amit pitches all that he has learnt in his training and all that he had collected from the field over the years.
From the look on the man’s face and the body language, he knows he isn’t making any headway.
And finally:
He pulls out his cell-phone, not one of those fancy ones, and says: ‘Sir, take this. Pls call these people and check,’ reeling out a few names. ‘And ask them how long I’ve been calling them…from this phone.’
The man shakes his head, almost sympathizing with the youngster: ‘How does it help?’
‘Sir, they’ll confirm it to you – for the last 7-8 years, I’ve been calling them from this phone, from the very same number.’
The man says: ‘I’m not sure where you’re going with this, my friend.’
‘Could I be holding onto the same number for so long, Sir, without doing right by my customers? Doesn’t happen with most guys in our profession; they change their numbers often and perhaps jobs too – like they’re erasing and escaping from their past…’
Amit waits for his words to sink in.
They find their mark at last.
The man’s gaze is fixed on Amit as he rests his case. Well, maybe the lad has a point…
With some more effort, he becomes Amit’s customer and remains one till this date.
I’ve no problem confessing it would have never occurred to me…
I hope this is now added to the org’s lore to be shared with its employees.
End
PS: So, what’s it with your investment advisor?
As a man out on the field meeting people and people, I’m sure he has many more stories under his belt. Let me see…if I can tease a few more out of him.
Source: besttermplan.in/short-term-investment-plans/
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