The Three Foot Rule - How to recruit!

The three-foot rule...as I understand it....

 I was "AMBUSHED" (Term I coined when someone in AMWAY or an MLM makes a recruiting attempt using FORM in bad form) at Borders last week by a young man attempting to use F.O.R.M on me. 

I was standing in the magazine isle glancing through yachting magazines when my I-phone rang. I answered had a short talk with my wife and hung up. The young man (this post is going somewhere so just hang in there) spoke and said "Nice phone do you like it?" I replied, "Yes it is real cool" and continued to read. A moment passed and I noticed the young man seemed to be hovering, I glanced towards him he then asks, "So what do you do?" (I now realized I was being "Ambushed") I replied with "I have my own business" and I continued to read. His next question was "So what kind of business is it?".

I told him "I sell Internet Media advertising to small businesses. What do you do?"

He replied, "I have an INTERNATIONAL MARKETING COMPANY WITH BUSINESS ALL OVER THE WORLD!" I chuckled inside and thought to myself must be Amway or Quixtar. He then asks me "How's that working for you?" I replied "Great!".

His next statement was what killed his opportunity to possibly gain a friend. Although I knew exactly what he was up to, if he'd used this next statement on a civilian (non-mlmer) he'd come off very rude.

His next statement was "Great compared to what?"  This is where Mike's training; every seminar and book I'd ever read came into play. "I replied "compared to the person who taught you to F.O.R.M. like this!" The look on his face was "oops, I've just met a pro, now what? The young man retreated with a "nice meeting and left".

Now there are several ways he could have recovered from my statement, however his "mentor" did not teach him that. 

NOW MY TIP. One thing I am good at, I hope this helps you folks who are still using the three foot rule. If you are going to recruit, recruit. DO NOT AMBUSH people with a bunch of fake FORM! (Family Occupation Recreation Message) Get to the point example:

If I meet someone or see someone somewhere (NOTE, everywhere I go I talk to people) my wife thinks it's nerdy, However, I always get a laugh and make people I casually meet feel comfortable around me.

Here's how I would have recruited me: "Excuse me, sorry for interrupting your magazine time, I am a local recruiter for an Internet Media and Advertising group.  We are expanding in the local area and are looking for some sharpe local talent.  Would it be too much to ask of you to share my business cards with people you know who might be considering a career change?" (I am already handing them three to four cards) We are looking for sharp professionals in XYZ city and are conducting phone interviews this week. If you can give them my card and simply have them call I'll owe you. Do you have a card?"

 Thank them again for their timew, apologize for the interuption and no matter what happens next wrap up and leave the immediate area.

 P.S. Highly recommend your card have your name, number, address, email and website on it.

RECRUTING WEBSITE and and email address like yourname@companyname.com

for example my wife uses team@knightcandles.com and a website of http://www.knightcandlesteam.com and I use forrest@nolimitz.us.

My cards have my name, address, phone (toll free and local), website www.nolimitz.us and email address. These are key. My wife and I have had our best business growth meeting people locally, making friends and sharing our product with them.   

I hope this helps those of you still practicing the three-foot rule.

Forrest Knight
http://www.forrestknight.com