Update: This past Saturday a doctor friend from Northern California called to say he and his fiancé were about an hour away and wanted to drop by to see me. Since he lived in New York City at one time we had lunch at City Delicatessen, which featured many New York style favorites. He had a yearning for a sandwich that included pastrami and cow tongue.

Yeesh.

After walking along the shoreline of Pacific Beach, we headed to La Jolla and chose Pasquale on Prospect for dinner. Word has it you could see actor Michael Douglas there on occasion. Pasquale on Prospect is what a nice Italian steak place should be: Wickedly delicious food, charming waiter with an elegant, yet quaint ambiance.

My friend's fiancé thanked me for joining them given such short notice. I replied, "It was my pleasure. Experiencing new pleasures and surprises triggers the creative process." So I really needed to thank them.

Without them I would not have found out about Pasquales on Prospect. And like Michael Douglas, someday I'll know the maître d' and enjoy a divine dining experience with my special guests.

Feature Article: Old School Charm

Subscribe: Sign me up for this e-zine and qualify me for the 5-week Secrets to Website Mastery e-course.

Putting More Butts in Seats...

A puzzled Barbara indicated she needed to do a better job promoting her company's financial seminars with the end goal of adding new clients. She wasn't putting enough butts in seats. Which is a common issue among seminar/workshop promoters.

What we know are the two major reasons that motivate people to take action: greed and fear. The opportunity for gain and the opposition to loss. And she'd have to include these factors in her promotions.

In most business seminars you can boost attendance by going to your local warm market. That includes customers and their referrals, subscribers to your newsletter, and even people whose business cards you've collected from networking events. You can then group products, complimentary one-on-one consultations and other hybrid packages that have a high perceived value which can be included as giveaways for a few fortunate attendees.

Of course the giveaways are just the icing on the cake. The information you present has to offer great value for your niche market. That's the reason they're giving up their time to participate. Because you can solve or address their unique problems.

Old School Charm

Dear Associate,

Each time my friend Vic enters a room — he has the incredible ability to draw a crowd. People would welcome him with smiles, acknowledgements and eventually hover around him. He has a magnetism about him that would make most celebrities jealous. When he was born the God of Charisma must have blessed him abundantly.

He doesn't run through a sales script memorizing which lines to say. Neither does he mark off a checklist of steps to follow. He simply speaks and behaves in a manner that makes him appear larger than life. He's so natural at this it would seem the world is his oyster. He has a charm about him that can be defined as Old School.

Imagine what your life would be like if you could harness his magnetic personality? It would appear as if a higher power was playing favorites. You'd have an unfair advantage in almost any situation. From romance, to social mobility, and then preferential treatment from the world arena.

What is Vic's secret? What does he do to tantalize the higher senses? Was he born with this gift? Was it inherited? Or can it be caught by almost anyone?

Three secrets to winning people's hearts:

1) Smile. If you're looking at a group of people who are facing you, whom are you quickly drawn to? I'll bet it's the ones who are smiling. Smiling people are signaling for a connection because there's something about you that made them smile. And by smiling they're inviting you to respond.

When Vic enters a room all you can see is a beaming smile on his face. It appears to be deadly contagious as people are caught smiling back. Isn't it interesting that a smile invites more smiles?

Which opens the door for the next secret...

2) Ten-cent coffee. Giving has been around since Eve gave Adam the forbidden fruit. But unselfish giving without wanting anything in return serves as a standard few ever attain.

When Vic showed up for work he brought in a dozen cups of coffee. McDonald's had a promotion for ten-cent coffee and it was too good to pass up. This made everyone in the office perk up like you wouldn't believe. Not only because they liked Vic, but because that coffee was ten times fresher than the pre-mixed vending machine variety.

Vic never asked for coffee money. It was as though he enjoyed spending his money to bring a little joy to the office. This daily tradition continued even after the coffee promotion was over.

Which creates the backdrop for the final secret...

3) Gift of gab. If you communicate well, you'd be simply irresistible. People are happier to be around you. You can make new friends and influence your peers easily. And it's powerful when people agree and support your position without any arm-twisting.

Vic always began a conversation with a topic that would reach the other party. That's what he did to open people. He rarely began talking about himself. And when people are open, they're more than willing to continue the conversation.

Most of us weren't born with instant charm. Yet we tend to marvel at those who have it. But it can be caught if we're open to improving ourselves.

Here's what happened recently...

I met Jacqueline Whalen, president of a speech club in San Diego. I smiled, gave her compliments, and talked about some of her accomplishments. She was so delighted she offered me two tips she follows that have been keys to her success. Now that's what I call instant success.

Warm regards,