These excuses sound like some guys you know? Well, now there’s no excuse. Not even rush-hour traffic. PickUp 101′s Walter has the plan for making your commute a little more fulfilling.
It’s 6:30pm on Wednesday night, and I’m heading across the bridge to meet with a coaching client; we’re meeting downtown at 7pm. Just as I arrive at the toll plaza, it’s backed up with the metering lights on (those are the stoplights installed behind the toll booths to slow traffic down onto the bridge).
Just great, I’m going to be late.
So I pay my toll and ease into the area before the metering lights, when I spot her sexy silhouette of disheveled, dirty-blonde hair. A dolphin pendant hangs from her rearview, and she’s the ideal beach bunny: her days spent combing the beaches for waves and eyes reflecting the deep blue color of the Pacific beyond.
So what is she doing in rush hour traffic?
I ease up next to her to find out. I start by giving her a funny face – she cracks a smile and returns it. Okay, good start.
Then she asks, "hey, can I borrow your phone?"
me: (smirks) "excuse me? that’s kind of weird, isn’t it?"
her: "no, really… I’m late for an important meeting, and I need to tell someone that I’m late."
me: (banters) "I can’t believe this, you’re gonna get me in trouble, aren’t you? It’s going to be some 900 number, and it’s gonna cost like $5 an hour"
her: (in a friendly way) "so are you gonna help me or what?"
Now for those of you at home (or office cubicle) reading this, you’re probably thinking that I’m about to jump through hoops for this girl. But I knew from the first smile that there was more going on. Besides, I wanted to indulge in my good deed of the day.
me: "okay, what is it…" (followed by mocking look of, "I can’t believe I’m doing this")
her: "415…"
me: "so what do you want me to say" (again, acting this out, playing it up)
her: "it’s to my friend, just tell her I’m going to be late, and that I lost my phone."
me: "hey, what’s your name by the way?" (I didn’t get her name up to this point)
her: "it’s yyyy"
me: (speaks on the phone) "yea so yyyy wants me to tell her she’s gonna be late and lost her phone, okay?"
friend: "um, okay"
her: "hey, thanks! you’re too kind, that was your good deed of the month!"
me: "sure, and you’re really cute, btw… don’t you mean like deed of the day?"
her: "yea, totally! we should do this like everyday!"
me: "okay I’m about to lose you, so now what’s *your* number?" (playing on the whole phone theme)
her: (she cracks up – I mean, what else would she expect?)
me: "yea, like you’re too cute, and we’re just gonna have to get coffee."
her: "sure, it’s 415… but I lost my phone, remember!"
By now we’re at the lights, about to get on the bridge, two cars side-by-side in a merging lane; the cars behind us are honking, and we’re literally holding up traffic to set up our date. We realized our intial moment was up and parted our ways onto the bridge.
Lessons Learned:
1. It started with something fun: making a face, not getting a date in traffic. Most of my memorable interactions started that way, and it’s not by coincidence. When I’m having fun, I’m not pushing for anything in particular. It allows me to be more creative (which this required, given the logistics) and playful.
2. Challenge your limiting beliefs: I, like 99% of the general population, believed car approaches were difficult. But it’s only that – an idea. Once I tried it enough, I got the the hang of it and looked for the opportunities to have fun now in traffic. So for you commuters out there – yes, you can actually look forward to your ride home.
– Walter
Senior Instructor, PickUp 101
To find out about coaching with Walter, go to Field Work and Phone Coaching
You hit it right on the spot, Walter. I agree, you just have to have fun with life and know how to crack jokes in any situation. It keeps you relaxed, cool, and brings the walls down for the ladies. Loved your funny face approach.. gonna have to give it a try myself. Hey, does a funny face work on a good looking guy like me, too? lol
Jo