I love this quote by Anais Nin. I was reminded of it because I met a hustler a couple of months ago.This one wasn't accosting people outside the Tesco Metro he was in a suit and had an etonian styled accent. I say styled because you can spot the affected can't you.They're just too posh and have that slight sideways sneer bordering on expressions of sheer anxiety at the possibility of being caught out.
Anyway, lets call him Edward. Ed (although he would never refer to his personage as such- He would if he was really genuinely posh) was trying to sell me some really rather expensive legal IP consultancy for a client I am sorting out a mediation issue for. I challenged him on the value of his offering based on the number of days and the amount of preparation the client would have to do which I thought he could include.
Well I then watched the most egotistical, "I love me" sales pitch and actually heard the following emerge from his manicured mouth "You see you can't buy me cheap Marie for I lay down with Lords on a regular basis. " Part of me thought well good for him and the other part of me thought - I bet they would be delighted to be outed by you -not. Anyway He did so much name dropping and leaning towards me with a come hither look. (He told me he was bisexual) Now remember, I am looking to buy Legal services here nothing else.
So after a time I gave it to him straight and told him I had no interest in his body or in what he did with it in his leisure time. I was interested in what he could deliver for my client at a reasonable price and that no matter how ,many names he dropped or how much he exaggerated his accent it wasn't going to get him the fee he wanted. Well he looked stunned for about 3 seconds then said in a somerset accent that he was sorry to mess around . That he was expected to behave like that so he did. That he really wanted the work.
I recommended him to my client and it's likely he will get the work.Why?
Because although he's hiding and he's a hustler it's not him really He is very very good at what he does and I guess I wanted him to know that he doesn't need to pretend to be someone he isn't to prove it.
So do us all a favour- Be yourself this week those of you out there pretending to be someone else.
We might just like you as you are!
Comments