Phoenix - Chapter 9
During the months of the trial I got very overwhelmed and needed to get away. At first I just stayed in Camarillo, about 15 minutes from my town - but I was a lot less recognizable there. While staying with my friend I went to go visit her brother in law in Arizona. It was a great excuse to get away.
The brother in law was a very nice, nerdy, computer genius. This is right when Virtual Reality was becoming a thing. The housing boom was in full effect in Arizona and he had figured out a way to upload the blue prints of these custom homes, and let the owner walk around in it.
I don't know ANYTHING about construction, and neither did he. But his brothers did and would come home from work and complain about these wives who would walk into the kitchen and change her mind about where the counter tops were placed. Or in her bedroom she would realize that she wanted to the window on a different wall. This caused tons of Red Lining, which would cost way more money, time, and headaches for everyone.
This young, genius, nerd figured out a solution, but was completely inept of selling it himself. He showed me the whole thing, in essentially it's "Atari" stage, and I knew I could sell it!
But we were talking about Big No Nonsense Construction guys. At this time people barely had computers at home, let alone a Virtual Reality taken seriously in business! So I had to fake it!
Within a few weeks I was able to set up a meeting with three guys who collectively owned the biggest Construction Company of the Phoenix area. I think that they accepted the meeting because they thought it was "cute" that this young girl invited them to a very expensive steak house for dinner and presentation.
I was 19, and way in over my head!
If you know anything about me, you know that I consider the non-management people as the more powerful of the Company. They are not playing politics so they have nothing to lose. People don't take them seriously so they talk about everything in front of them. They REALLY know what the hell is going on. And they can often be the ones who can make you or break you. Think about where you work and tell me I'm wrong!
When you treat them with respect and kindness, not only will they be the funnest people in the whole Company - they will take care of you. They will make sure the gates are open to you . They will give you all the info you need. They will influence FOR YOU.
So... I return to my story....
Me, the nerd, his dad, brother, sister... we all put together a bunch of money for this meeting. I went to visit the place the night before at the same time I was meeting the Construction Guys. I met the valet, the doorman, the hostess, and a couple of the waiters. I passed out $20's like it was going out of style. I told them my story and plead my case. They all agreed to help me out. And here's how it went....
I waited down the street, in a rented car, with the nerd as my driver in a suit. As soon as I saw the men at the valet drive up - we drove up.
The valet ran right up to my car, passing them.... "Hello Ms. Murray! So good to see you today!"
I greeted the gentlemen while walking up the doorman "Good Evening Ms. Murray! We get to see you twice this week! Such a pleasure!"
Walked up the hostess "Good evening Ms. Murray! We have your favorite table waiting for you."And then the waiter "Good Evening Ms. Murray - would you like your usual? Is Bruno feeling better this week?" (I didn't even have a dog!)
The night went on and on like this. Everyone played their part. The Gentlemen were impressed and agreed to give it a trial run for three custom homes, equalling over $60,000.
I paid everyone out when I returned in my taxi the next day!We all got a good laugh when I got home and told everyone -but now it was time to back it all up! The three homes were successful and moved on to many, many more. This Company was later sold for millions of dollars, which is why I am not really allowed to say names. But you get the point...
Fake it till you make it...
And be able to back it up when you get your chance!
I did not stay long in Arizona. Once I started up the first three houses it was time for me to go - it was too hard for me to drive back and forth to testify. But it was a great escape while it lasted!