Oh The Things You Can Learn From Old School Phishermen!

O.K., so back in the day (starting in the 1920’s), there was this slippery con man named “Count” Victor Lustig.

Lustig was so slick, at one point he had 25 different aliases — truly one of the greatest charlatans of the last century (gosh that sounds like it was so long ago, doesn’t it?). In fact, Lustig even swindled Al Capone out of 5 Grand, but that’s a different story for a different day.

One of his more clever scams was his constant selling and re-selling of Paris’ Eiffel Tower.

Here’s how he did it: Lustig had read that the upkeep on the Eiffel Tower was very expensive, and so he forged some official French government-looking stationery (Rumor has it, French government stationery looks similar to an old box of Quisp cereal, but I can neither deny or confirm this as I haven’t been to the French Foreign Legion building here in Lutz, in quite some time.) and pretending to be a government official, he called on five wealthy European entrepreneurs.

He told these old fellers that the French government had been forced to sell the Eiffel Tower because they could no longer afford the upkeep of it — a very believable story.

He took each of them on a separate tour of the Tower, so he could spend time with them individually and select the most likely mark for his scam.

He wound up accepting illegal bribes AND official payments on behalf of the French government.

After the jig was up, he immediately left the country — his victim too ashamed to report what had happened. The following year, the Count returned to France and sold the Eiffel Tower once again the same way. Only this time, the victim reported the crime, so Lustig wasn’t able to do it again for a tri-fecta.

The Count left a legacy of cons, across Paris and New York City, and he also left a “Ten Commandments” list of how to perpetrate a con. Oddly enough, most of this information is the same information you want to use when you’re trying to persuade someone to buy something from you for “good” reasons.

Remember, the difference between sales, and manipulation or deception has to do with intent. In sales, you’re persuading someone to do something that will help them.

When you’re manipulating or deceiving someone, you’re persuading them to do something at their own expense. That’s a no-no and if this is your deal, unsubscribe yourself from this list.

Here are the Count’s Ten Commandments, as taken from Kathryn Lindskoog’s book, “Fakes, Frauds, & Other Malarkey”:

1. Be a patient listener. It is this, NOT fast talking, that gets a con-man his coups. (In sales, your EARS, not your MOUTH, are your greatest assets.)

2. Never look bored. (This is often tough — especially when talking to someone who’s boring.)

3. Wait for the other person to reveal any political opinions, then agree with them.

4. Let the other person reveal religious views, then have the same ones. (Not likely to happen here in the U.S., is it?)

5. Hint at seks talk, but don’t follow it up unless the other fellow shows a strong interest. (Hint: If the other fellow does NOT show a strong interest, check his pulse, he is probably dead.)

6. Never discuss illness, unless some special concern is shown.

7. Never pry into a person’s personal circumstances, they’ll tell you all eventually. (Boy that’s true. Especially on an airplane.)

8. Never boast. Just let your importance be quietly obvious. The rule against boasting does not always apply in the United States today. (I will add that if you boast, and if they other person gravitates VERY strongly to your boasting, then you either have a VERY live prospect you’re dealing with, or… a shallow scammer himself.)

9. Never be untidy.

10. Never get drunk.

Pretty thorough, I’d say. But if you want REAL inspiration, in this month’s Seductive Selling Newsletter, I’ll show you THREE stories of people who’ve dramatically changed their lives using secrets I’ve shown them. If these stories don’t inspire and motivate you to either get off your duff, or reach even HIGHER levels of performance than you’re reaching now, then you too, need to check your pulse because YOU may be dead as well. Try it, FREE… AND get $1,391 of Bonus gifts as well, right here: http://www.kingofcopy.com/ssnl

Now go sell something, Craig Garber

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About the Author

Craig GarberAuthor of "How To Make Maximum Money With Minimum Customers, " and publisher of Seductive Selling - an offline marketing newsletter currently read in 15 countries, world-wide. In a nutshell, I do two things: 1. I show you how to attract a reliable, steady stream of pre-qualified leads who are ready to do business with you NOW... 2. And I increase your net profits and cash-flow, by increasing your customer, client, or patient value -- often, dramatically. How do I do this? By developing, and helping you implement, unique, personalized lead generation and marketing strategies... using compelling sales messages that push your customers emotional buy-buttons. I've worked with over 300 clients in more than 104 different industries, since March of 2000, and I really enjoy what I do. I'm a stable, reliable, happily married family guy with three kids who loves life and always follows through on my commitments and promises. I love to listen to music, workout, read, travel with my family, take pictures, and go bass fishing. I always say "Yes," when it comes to good cigars, good books, and good coffee :-)

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