So Monday-Friday for the past month, that's what I have been doing.
June 24, 2010:
This was the day of the phone call and the first day I started talking to five people a day. John had said before that he didn't care if it was awkward, I was to do it. Well, it was awkward. I passed up chances, was really, really sweaty in a really, really air-conditioned mall, AND I didn't really have conversations with people. I dominated the conversation, didn't ask any questions, and threw a business card in their face before they had any time to process what had happened. Definitely an eye-opener for me.
June 25, 2010:
5 people.
June 26, 2010:
5 girls young and old. People I don't expect to be receptive are receptive and people I think would be receptive sometimes aren't.
June 27, 2010:
6 people. I talk to this couple who like to drink beer. I only bring up this conversation because it was a funny one. They said they would come in the gym to try it, but they never do. NOTE: DON'T TAKE STUFF LIKE THAT PERSONALLY!
June 28, 2010:
Sick and throw up, don't talk to anyone, BUT I don't owe John $20.
June 29, 2010:
I have a BAD day. The people I choose to talk to are rude. Some girls even laugh at me when I ask them if they workout at all. To be perfectly honest, I was still feeling sick and so my attitude probably had something to do with the way people responded to me. Attitude is EVERYTHING. Anyway, after my 5th person I go to the bathroom and cry. It's funny to think about now, but I was really upset! I took it as rejection and reflection on me and it messed me up.
June 30th, 2010:
John tells me in an email that getting people interested in CrossFit is like picking up women. I only talk to ONE person this day, but we exchange business cards. This is the last day FOR SIX DAYS that I talk to people. 6 multiplied by 20 equals 120. Keep that number in mind...
July 9, 2010:
I turn into a wimp and avoid my yahoo mail account for 6 days because I don't want to talk to anyone anymore. Mike tells me that John wanted him to tell me to check my email. I finally check my email and I owe John Burch $120 because I stopped emailing and talking to people for six days.
I tell John that I'm pissed about letting fear get in the way of doing something.
"...how's that pissed off-ness helping... not much I bet... chalk it up to learning and move forward, do yourself a favor."
So I talk to 10 people at Play-It-Again Sports.
July 10, 2010:
I talk to 10 people at the Vitamin Shoppe. The conversation that stuck out most on this day was one I had with a husband and a wife. I asked if they worked out and they immediately opened up to me and started to tell me about their goals and how they were each other's accountability. I told them about CrossFit and got to talk about my "Grace" time and they asked me questions and told me about a diet they were on.
July 12-16, 2010:
I had an awesome week. I talked to 10 or more people a day each day. Friday was the only day I talked to the minimum of 5. The conversations on Friday were for the most part good, but I didn't take as many chances as I should have.
July 19, 2010:
Today SUCKED. I decided to try and meet people more organically, not at the Vitamin Shoppe or Play-It-Again Sports and it felt like my security blanket was ripped to shreds and my confidence taken from me. I didn't take any chances. I've been meek. I talk to 5 people, but I don't since any interest so I give away 0 business cards.
July 20, 2010:
Today was much better than yesterday. All together today I talked to 10 people. I first talked to a family of 4 in Starbucks. I found out they were from Chicago. They were nice, but with every question I asked, they looked as though I was going to ask them for $20. Then I talked to another girl in Starbucks. She was really nice, but I couldn't figure out how to bring up CF. I eavesdropped on a conversation between two girls and ended up talking to them about water polo. I said I did CrossFit and asked if they knew what that was. They hadn't, but didn't ask anymore questions. That could have been a time to say something pithy, give them a card and walk away, but I didn't do that. I went to Gap next and had the entire store looking for the perfect pair of jeans for me. I kept talking about working out but not once did I bring up CrossFit. Where I went wrong here was that I was waiting for them to ask. NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT! I'm supposed to make the first move! Last place I went was Foot Locker. The girls in there were rude. I tried to make conversation 3 or 4 times by asking questions about the shoes they were wearing and they were RUDE.
So today I was better at starting the initial conversation, not so good at closing it. I'm still not taking chances, but today was the first day I had visited the mall since the day I cried in the bathroom stall. That rhymed!
