2 Sales Lessons from Being Burgled

Today, I’m sharing 2 lessons I learned from being robbed. 

Now, this is not a “feel bad for me” post.

I’m over it. 

And doing better than I was before. 

But you might find this amusing in a schadenfreude, hindsight 20/20 kind of way. 

(Especially knowing it's just stuff.)

So let’s get to it….

I was robbed last week.

More like burglarized.

When I popped into town for a quick event. I left my bag on the backseat of my car. And I didn't put it in the trunk as I should have. I wasn't thinking.  

(I have no one to blame but myself...)

Creating the ultimate "Rob me blind" offer for some miscreant walking down the street.

And someone took me up on it.

Because within 20 minutes.... (witnesses confirm.)

My window was smashed. My bag was grabbed. Glass was everywhere.

And the perp walked away with my laptop and assorted goods. 

Goods that probably made their way to a trash can within minutes.

And as luck would have it.

I was parked in a camera blind spot. So there’s no chance of video evidence catching the criminal.

But this post isn't about the laptop or even getting the window smashed.

Although it could very well be.

Nope, it's about the stuff that made it to the dumpster. Items I'll never see again.

The stuff that was really valuable. And the stuff you don't think about it until you need it again.

Like my "Nobody Writes Alone" t-shirt I had stuffed in my bag because it was leg day.

I ended up doing squats and deadlifts at the gym in dress socks, jeans, and a button-down. Lifting P.R.s on both. (Okay, I took the shirt off once I was alone in the gym... I didn't want to mess it up for dinner...) 

I know I can get another t-shirt. But I wrote a lot wearing that shirt. I made good memories. I want it back.

I lost some fantastic books. Tomes you can buy used for less than 12 dollars on Amazon. (Don't worry replacements are already on the way.) So not "valuable."

But inside of those original copies were the notes and the underlining I took while reading. The marginalia that made me love the books I was reading.

In fact, I muttered an F-Bomb the second I realized one of the books was missing. Louder than when I realized my bag was gone the first time. (Direct message me for details if you care... That book changed my entire strategy and philosophy.)

I realized when I sat down to write my next blog post. After getting a new computer...

I lost the note cards I'd been using for post material.

Notecards I've been collecting for years.

Physical representations of parts of my brain. 

And I feel like memories, thoughts, and ideas have been ripped and stripped out from my noggin.

Those I can't get back. And I value them highly.

Even if the insurance company would cackle and roar and snortle at me with glee if I made any claim against them.

So what's the moral of this story?

Aside from me telling you "woe is me"?

(Please, don't feel bad for me. I'll get over it, and be stronger for it. It was just stuff.)

No, the moral of the story is: "The Valuable Stuff isn't always the Valuable Stuff."

The looter got what they wanted. Probably making a quick buck selling the computer. 

Tossing the rest away.

But if they had sat down with my bag and really looked at the items inside.

Looked for more than the cursory three seconds it took to decide to throw it in the trash. 

They could have come away with what I consider a gold mine.

And you know what?

I actually hope they took the time to look inside.

 I hope he or she pieces together the valuable stuff inside and makes a change. 

A change for the honest. A change for the better. At least a change for the comfier. (It was a nice t-shirt.)

It's just stuff. They probably need it more than I do.

The thief walked away with a goldmine. But all he’ll take from it is a laptop. 

Oh well. 

This was a temporary setback. I'm already on the way to be richer, smarter, and happier.

So let the clown have it.

I'm already creating the offers, the strategies, and the value I need. To be even better than I was before.

I learned a lot in the process.

Like "How to create an irresistible offer."

And "Never forget the bonuses."

And one more, speaking of bonuses:

 "How to turn a negative into a positive."

Lessons I will use with glee now.

Lessons I hope you learn without having to deal with what I have.

I hope my loss can be your gain.

I've already made it mine.

So tell me. 

Have you ever lost anything and gotten stronger because of it?