I wish you had entered my contest
I wish you had entered my contest
09/07/2009
For several months I've
been running a contest
to give away one of
my keynote speeches. Depending on the destination,
the value could have been as high as
$7,500 not including expenses. Today (Sept. 7, 2009) was the
last day to enter this
contest.
I thought was a big opportunity. (I subscribe to
the philosophy, Go Big or Stay
Home.)
THE PRIZE
I promised to drive anywhere in North America, even Alaska, at my expense, and present any title in my repertoire at your request.... at no cost to you. I was willing to sleep in my van if that was what it took, generate publicity for my appearance at your event and provide handouts at my expense to your audience members. I planned to take care of every detail for you. And you could have used the event as a fundraiser for your church, a shelter in your community, or even your personal profit. That could have meant $1,000 to $10,000 in your pocket, free and clear (except for your own income taxes.)
In case you didn't realize it, it was another of my tests for my Kindness Experiment book. To enter all you had to do was tell me 3 reasons why you would like to have a free speech for your group and 3 reasons I'd enjoy speaking to your group. I'm sure you could have brainstormed 3 things that would please me. Perhaps you would have introduced me to someone, perhaps the city or town you live in is extremely beautiful. You get the idea.
THE WINNER
Sadly, not a single person entered the contest. Had you entered, as the sole entrant, you would have won by default. You could have picked any day in the future for me to be at your event, and I would be there to present any presentation I offer. You could have set any price you wanted on attendance, and I would have brought people in the door for you. Because of this lack of interest I won't offer this contest again. And if anyone in the future asks me to speak for free, I'll simply remind them that they had a chance to win an all-expenses paid event, but didn't make the effort. Not one person even asked me for more information.
So instead of spending a week or two of my life to help someone else make a pile of cash, I will move on to writing projects that require my attention. I'm sad that nobody wanted to meet me in person. Sad and disappointed, but not angry.
Here's what I hoped to obtain for myself from the contest:
1. a feeling of being valued after the two hate campaigns I endured in Girard Pennsylvania and St. Catharines Ontario (12 years!) based only on envy.
2. an opportunity to stand in front of an audience again after being out of the public eye for so long.
3. a road trip with a destination. I so looked forward to traveling to a location where a group of people would smile to see me arrive, after enduring only threats and bullying from people in my environment.
4. a reason for the press and media to take notice. The contest combined with my presentation and its turnout might have been newsworthy resulting in some income for me. Twelve years with little income due to cruel circumstances has resulted in a pile of debt and no savings for old age.
5. a little bit of appreciation for financially helping a deserving organization or family or business from the proceeds of my speaking at an event.
6. just one big break to be able to start getting back on my feet as a contributing member of society again.
This is just one of a long series of offers I have made over the years that has met with rejection, apathy - and sometimes anger- and why I am determined to write the Kindness Experiment to teach readers to be open to what the Universe offers. The lesson I hope you will take away from this contest is: Not everyone is running a scam. Some of us - even those who have little - find joy in giving to others. In the future, when someone makes an offer to help you make money, make an effort. It could be quite profitable for you. And could be confidence-building for the giver.
But please, now that the contest has failed, rather than ask me to speak to your group for free, recommend me for a paying speaking opportunity and possibly enjoy receiving a portion of my fee as a reward. That would be a huge gift for me. I just want to work to earn my way in life.
Andrea
PS If you want to read an excerpt from The Kindness Experiment, read this story I wrote: The Benefactor. It's typical of the kind of offer I make that is rejected.
Comments or questions? Use the feedback form on this site.
THE PRIZE
I promised to drive anywhere in North America, even Alaska, at my expense, and present any title in my repertoire at your request.... at no cost to you. I was willing to sleep in my van if that was what it took, generate publicity for my appearance at your event and provide handouts at my expense to your audience members. I planned to take care of every detail for you. And you could have used the event as a fundraiser for your church, a shelter in your community, or even your personal profit. That could have meant $1,000 to $10,000 in your pocket, free and clear (except for your own income taxes.)
In case you didn't realize it, it was another of my tests for my Kindness Experiment book. To enter all you had to do was tell me 3 reasons why you would like to have a free speech for your group and 3 reasons I'd enjoy speaking to your group. I'm sure you could have brainstormed 3 things that would please me. Perhaps you would have introduced me to someone, perhaps the city or town you live in is extremely beautiful. You get the idea.
THE WINNER
Sadly, not a single person entered the contest. Had you entered, as the sole entrant, you would have won by default. You could have picked any day in the future for me to be at your event, and I would be there to present any presentation I offer. You could have set any price you wanted on attendance, and I would have brought people in the door for you. Because of this lack of interest I won't offer this contest again. And if anyone in the future asks me to speak for free, I'll simply remind them that they had a chance to win an all-expenses paid event, but didn't make the effort. Not one person even asked me for more information.
So instead of spending a week or two of my life to help someone else make a pile of cash, I will move on to writing projects that require my attention. I'm sad that nobody wanted to meet me in person. Sad and disappointed, but not angry.
Here's what I hoped to obtain for myself from the contest:
1. a feeling of being valued after the two hate campaigns I endured in Girard Pennsylvania and St. Catharines Ontario (12 years!) based only on envy.
2. an opportunity to stand in front of an audience again after being out of the public eye for so long.
3. a road trip with a destination. I so looked forward to traveling to a location where a group of people would smile to see me arrive, after enduring only threats and bullying from people in my environment.
4. a reason for the press and media to take notice. The contest combined with my presentation and its turnout might have been newsworthy resulting in some income for me. Twelve years with little income due to cruel circumstances has resulted in a pile of debt and no savings for old age.
5. a little bit of appreciation for financially helping a deserving organization or family or business from the proceeds of my speaking at an event.
6. just one big break to be able to start getting back on my feet as a contributing member of society again.
This is just one of a long series of offers I have made over the years that has met with rejection, apathy - and sometimes anger- and why I am determined to write the Kindness Experiment to teach readers to be open to what the Universe offers. The lesson I hope you will take away from this contest is: Not everyone is running a scam. Some of us - even those who have little - find joy in giving to others. In the future, when someone makes an offer to help you make money, make an effort. It could be quite profitable for you. And could be confidence-building for the giver.
But please, now that the contest has failed, rather than ask me to speak to your group for free, recommend me for a paying speaking opportunity and possibly enjoy receiving a portion of my fee as a reward. That would be a huge gift for me. I just want to work to earn my way in life.
Andrea
PS If you want to read an excerpt from The Kindness Experiment, read this story I wrote: The Benefactor. It's typical of the kind of offer I make that is rejected.
Comments or questions? Use the feedback form on this site.