RealitySells

Sometimes You Just Gotta Grab The Microphone

There are moments in your life that you’ll never forget. Your first kiss. Your wedding day. The first day at your first real job.

This was one of those days.

My writing partner, Andy Corbus, and I were in New York City with our wives, about to take part in a day that most authors only dream about. We were there to debut our first book at Book Expo America, the largest trade show of its kind in the industry, and our publisher had arranged for us to take part in book signings all afternoon.

As we boarded the charter bus that was to take us from our hotel to the convention center, I was marveling at how much work had led up to today. The support of our wives, the many long hours writing, editing and re-editing our material, the search for a publisher, and finally to be published authors in New York, about to be on the world’s biggest stage for people in the book industry. This was our opportunity to make a mark on the world. Today was our shot. We were going to be in front of people whose decisions to read, review, or buy our book could make a difference in peoples’ lives. This was it. We were going to do everything we could to make it count.

Apparently our wives were thinking the same thing.

Jessica, Andy’s wife, suddenly got out of her seat on the bus, moved to the front, and began to talk one-on-one with the bus driver. After several moments, the driver nodded his head in agreement to whatever she was saying. He handed his walkie-talkie-style microphone to Jessica, and she stood up, holding the railing as she began to speak:

“Good morning, everyone!” she said in her best bright tour-guide voice. “Welcome to New York! Did everyone sleep well last night?”

I looked at Sherri, my wife, in disbelief. What was she doing? I looked at Andy across the aisle, and he had the same look on his face as we did.

“Do we have any first-time New Yorkers on the bus today?” Jessica continued for a good two minutes about the Big Apple, how great a city it was, and how good it was to have all these Book Expo people in town this week. No one questioned her. She was on a roll.

“I understand that Book Expo is a chance for many first-time authors to have their moment in the sun, and to make contacts with other people. Do we have any first-time authors on the bus today?”

I was on the spot. I knew that Andy wouldn’t get up; that would be too obvious. I raised my hand, playing Jessica’s game out.

“Oh, here’s one. Would you like to come up and describe your book to everyone?” Jessica beamed as she handed me the microphone. She was loving every minute of this gamble, and it was working.

“Sure,” I said. “Our book is called ‘Reality Sells: How To Keep Customers Coming Back Again And Again By Marketing Your Genuine Story.’ It’s a blueprint to help any business discover its true identity, and to ethically exploit those things that can help set it apart from anyone else, because we believe your genuine story is better than anything you could make up. We’re excited to be here, and we hope you enjoy the show today.”

The bus broke into congratulatory applause, and Jessica asked if there were any more first-time authors aboard. No one raised their hand.

“Well, are there any READERS aboard?” Jessica asked. Everyone laughed and raised their hands. “Well, Bill, it looks like we have a few potential buyers of your book right here,” she said with a smile.

“We’re almost there, so welcome to New York, and enjoy your day.” She handed the mic back to the bus driver, sat down at her seat, and her bold move was history. Jessica had seen an opportunity and grabbed it. With that one courageous move, she set the tone for all of us that day.

What opportunities have you let slip away because you didn’t have the courage to step to the front of the bus?

Do you believe enough in yourself and who you are to take a risk?

Will you jump up and act on the chance that’s in front of you, or will you just sit quietly in your seat on the bus?

In business and in life, if you want something badly enough, sometimes you just gotta grab the microphone and go for it.

Bill Guertin is Chief Enthusiasm Officer of The 800-Pound Gorilla, a training and business development firm in Bourbonnais specializing in sales performance, customer service, and marketing. He can be reached at bill@The800PoundGorilla.com, or at (815) 932-5878.