Let me tell you a remarkable story about context, persuasion and how it applies to just about everything in your business…
On January 12, 2007, a man just outside a subway station in Washington, started to play the violin.
He wore a baseball cap. And over the course of 45 minutes, he played six pieces, including two by Bach and one by Schubert.
Because it was rush hour, it was crowded. Exactly 1,097 people poured through the station, most of them on their way to work.
According to video footage, three minutes went by before anyone noticed whatsoever.
A middle aged man turned to notice the musician. He barely altered his gait, and then hurried to catch the next train.
Thirty seconds later, the violinist received his first tip: A woman threw a dollar bill into his open violin case. She did it hurriedly, like someone flicking a cigarette butt to the curb.
A few minutes later, leaned against the wall to listen to him. Three minutes later, the man looked at his watch and went to catch his train.
The one who seemed to pay the most attention was a three-year-old boy. He was in tow at the hem of his mother’s skirt, hurriedly being dragged along, the kid’s head following the violinist even as he was being pulled away.
Several other children had the same reaction. All their parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only seven people stopped and stayed for any length of time.
About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace.
He collected $32.17. No one applauded.
Only one person out of the 1,097 that passed through the arcade recognized the man.
She patiently waited for him to finish, then went up to say hello to Joshua Bell, one of the most celebrated musicians in the entire world who had agreed to take part in an unusual social experiment.
He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Three days earlier, Bell sold out a theater in Boston playing the same repertoire. Average ticket price for that performance: $112.
So why am I telling you this today?
Well, there’s a lot to be drawn from this, obviously.
It’s not just a lesson to appreciate the beauty that’s around us every day.
It’s also a lesson that context is everything and that persuasion can’t be assumed or taken for granted.
The Limbic Effect methodology is filled with ways to provide that exact sort of persuasive context and trigger brain chemicals that accelerate trust, loyalty and influence with your prospects, clients, networks & referral sources.
When you ‘Limbic Brain’ your business, you create deep profound bonds, which lead to fasttrack growth in your business.
Do you need ideas on how to limbic brain your marketing to get prospects to buy? Or clients to retain and wow them? Or the language in your communications?
The bottom line is we can accelerate trust, loyalty and connection and we are the masters at it
PS: If you want to be around other people that can inspire you, challenge you, push you, so you win everyday and make a greater impact than ever before in your business, then send a message as we just might have the other people you’ve been looking for.