I work part time at a copy & print center. It stays pretty busy, and at times I’m the only person working in it. One evening this older guy walked up to the counter. He looked a little awkward, but he greeted me very happily and professionally. He had a small stack of papers (maybe four or five sheets) that he needed five sets of. They had little logos at the bottom in color, and he confidently decided they needed to be in color. The problem began when I noticed he was moving really slowly. I get paid to be patient, but it’s equally important for me to be quick and efficient. While he was stacking his papers and reordering them I noticed what they were. Oh no. Not again. They were multi-level marketing sign up sheets. I thought maybe I’d go free, but no!

“So,” he began. “Have you ever considered starting your own business?”

“Yes, actually. I started my own business. I’m a freelance web and graphic designer.”

He didn’t seem to hear me. “How would you like to quit working for these guys and work for yourself?”

I think he was going to say that no matter what I said.

“Well, yeah I’m doing that right now. It’s started slow, but it’s becoming more consistent.”

He just kept going. “Have you ever heard of …? He’s an entrepreneur. He’s made millions with a brilliant marketing plan. See these companies? All of them are big name brands. We simply do a different kind of marketing…People already pay for cable and buy groceries. All they have to do is buy it through your website.” Blah blah blah blah blah. He wouldn’t stop.  I knew his pitch better than he did.

Several times I tried to interject and decline. He’d make a direct offer. I’d apologize very politely and decline. I told him I was not interested. Luckily a lady walked up to the counter behind him. She needed copies. I had run his, but he kept standing there stapling and shuffling. I thought he’d let her step up, but he didn’t. He kept trying to get me to join his team. I made awkward “I’m sorry” expressions to her.

He just kept telling me how I could make so much money without doing work. After twenty to thirty minutes he made his final pitch. “Think about it. Everything I’ve said makes sense, right?”

“Uh huh.”

“We are meeting Wednesday night to talk about it. Wanna come?”

“No thank you. I’m not interested.”

“Would you like to give me your number so I can check back with you?”

WHAT!?! Are you serious. It just got scary. “No sir, I’d rather not.”

Then he left. Thank goodness. I threw away his card and helped my very patient customer.

Micah the Admin