I was having lunch with my friend Joe Finazzo last week; Joe is a full-blooded Italian whose grandparents emigrated to America. Joe's father became fairly well off selling produce in the Midwest where he oft related the tome, "Young Joseph... if you always deliver more than your client asks for; then your business will always be successful". We're familiar with variations of this. How many of us do it?
At a National Speakers Association meeting I attended, a budding comedian described how he enhances a joke by adding a follow up bit that adds to it. We've all seen it -- the shtick has more at the end. He called it 'plussing the gag'. I'll 'plus the gag' in the following while relating something that happened to me.
Years ago I was out to purchase a new compact car model at a local dealership. After the customary drive of this basic auto we had our 'sit-down' at the sales desk. The fellow related that it was a wondrous fine car; I related that it was a plain-white-toaster-appliance with wheels. Off to this tactful start, I wrote my well-researched offer on a slip of paper and slid it across to him. He looked at it, paused and said "Sir, you have more chance of seeing Jesus at 3 o'clock than getting this car - at this price". He said that! - No kidding. Our tactful exchange continued, we haggled some more - I didn't budge. It turns out that: Jesus is a black man ... I indeed met him at 3 o'clock ... he works in finance.
Without deconstructing the preceding paragraph, it is the additional bits that give the story more impact.
Are you plussing your experience? Are you delivering more than your clients expect? Seek ways to make your product service or brand more authentic, more memorable, more engaging more positive. Conceive take-aways that enhance your message. These are the elements of an experience.
If you would like additional insights...contact us *grin*.
Plus the gag.
:-)
Patrick Scofield
www.designworx.com
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