We typically end by talking about persistence when when we speak and at our last program, a woman in the audience shared this story with everyone during the Q &A: 

Liz had been dropping by John's office for months. Same routine every time. She'd pop in, flash a friendly smile, leave some information or a small giveaway, and then head out. And every time, John barely acknowledged her. No interest, no engagement, just another salesperson trying to get his attention.

But Liz wasn’t one to give up.

On one of her visits, after the usual silence, she decided to try something different. "Hey John, any fun plans this weekend?" she asked. To her surprise, he actually responded. "Probably just taking my dog to the park," he muttered.

That's when Liz saw her opening. She rushed back to her car, grabbed a dog treat from a stash she had prepared for moments just like this, and placed it on his desk.

For the first time ever, John looked up from his work. Really looked at her.

"My dog will love this!" he said, his expression completely different from every visit before.

From that moment on, every time she stopped by, she brought a dog treat. Slowly but surely, the ice melted. They started chatting. A real connection formed. And over time, that once-disinterested prospect turned into a customer one who has since given Liz a ton of business.

Moral of the story? Several.

• Keep showing up.
• Be patient. 
• Find a way to connect. 
• Stay engaged, even when it feels like nothing is happening.

Bonus lesson: Never underestimate the power of a dog treat. 🐶