The Man in the Red Recliner
Posted on | March 19, 2007 | 3 Comments
I experienced two newsworthy events today. The first was the completion of a new record amount of inspections for the south end! I really don’t know how it was possible but I completed forty-eight inspections and two of them were interior inspections. I was on the road at 8:30 this morning and got back at 4:30 so I was pretty much gone for the day.
The second newsworthy event is something I have never experienced before in the field services business. I was checking a house for occupancy and the house set up on a little rise about seventy-five yards off the street. I could make out some furniture on the front porch but practically everything else about the place made me think I would find it vacant once I was up the rise and close enough to see better.
As I pulled into the drive about fifty feet from the house, I saw a man get up off a red recliner on the front porch and go into the house. I had not seen the man from the street but I knew then that the house was not vacant, but why did the man go inside?
My first thought was that the man might be extremely shy but I quickly discarded that idea thinking that it would be strange for a grown man to be that shy. My next thought was that the phone must have rang about the time I pulled up and he went inside to answer it. Yes, that was a very logical thought and reason for just walking off while I was walking up to the house.
In a few more seconds I knew exactly why the man had gone into the house. He returned to the front porch carrying a gun in his lowered arms. He did not threaten me in any way and his crossed wrists below the waist made it obvious his intent was only to let me know he had the gun. Since there was very little else I could do, I pointed to Pakak in the back seat of my car and told the man I was looking for my female Husky and wanted to know if he had seen her. “No, I ain’t”. “OK, well thanks a lot anyway”.
I have no idea why the man thought it necessary to do what he did but he probably has his reasons. I just wanted to let you know that we really do work in the real world and not some get rich never-never land.
Speaking of the real world, I had a call today from a rep asking my opinion about working the Detroit inner city. After enough discussion to educate myself a bit and have the rep say it for himself, we decided to pass on this golden opportunity. He told me he felt very uncomfortable working the area. Well, as far as I’m concerned, that settles it.
If you’ve read my bio, you know I used to think I was immortal and I don’t have enough sense to know when to be afraid sometimes but there are areas here that we do not work. Some of the areas are dominated by drug dealers and pimps and to use good ole southern drawl, “it ain’t worth it ya’ll”. No amount of money justifies jeopardizing your health or your peace of mind.
One of the nice things about being in my position is the opportunity I get to meet new people and make friends. I called a rep in Florida today asking for help with one of my projects since he has experience in the area I needed help in. I received the help I needed and enjoyed the conversation to boot! I have never met this rep but we have gotten into the habit of calling each other pretty often and trying to help each other when we can. I hope you are seeing a little of this when you and I talk or I refer you to another field rep or a company rep. Helping each other is good.
Progress is being made on all fronts but since I am rather spread out, a lot may seem to be stalled. I have corrected about 50% of the items I want to change at TheRepReport.com and I have finished the contents for the latest manual. However, I am having problems with the manual’s menu. Hopefully I will have it repaired soon.
We were out of town over the weekend for a granddaughter’s birthday. Little road trips with our daughter driving gives me more time for reading. I read two books over the weekend and highly recommend 
you read “Start Late, Finish Rich” by David Bach. If you are twenty, thirty, fifty or sixty, you will find something in this book for you. If you do read the book, let me know. There are some chapters that I think are related to this business and we can discuss them a bit.
(46•7.50)+(2•12)
Â
Comments
3 Responses to “The Man in the Red Recliner”
Leave a Reply
Meta
Pages
Polls
Loading ...Content Categories
Digital Field Services, LLC
Recent Comments
Polls
Loading ...
April 5th, 2007 @ 10:22 am
Hello im new at this business and just found your site.
My question is do you run into a lot of people who are hostile,maybe have guns,are threaten to beat you up or is that rare? I have only done drive by occupancy but lately I have been doing some delinquent contacts though so far i have found no one home and just tape letter to door as instructed.I havent bought your manual yet but have a couple others. Yours sounds as it might be diferent from the others as it sounds like you might get more into the business and not so general. Looking forward to getting to know you and this business. Love your site great info.
Terry Kirkbride / tgk field services
April 5th, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
I very seldom run into a hostile person. In all the years and thousands upon thousands of face-to-face contacts, I have encountered probably no more than six upset individuals. I can’t even say they were hostile, just upset.
One offered to sell me his house for one dollar.
One followed me from his parents house and pulled in behind me in a parking lot. After I politely told him I thought his actions were becoming threatening, I told him he might want to call an ambulance for a ride to the closest hospital. He left.
And then there was the guy in the red recliner. Only these three are memorable. The others are vague and I only remember telling them “Hey, I just deliver the messages”.
You may find this hard to believe, but keep in mind that you really are doing these people a favor. The lender is trying very hard to communicate with them so don’t wimp out.
Of course none of this means you should be foolhardy – quite the contrary, it is essential to be street-wise.
You can become somewhat street-wise working with homeless people at one of your local churches – really!
August 15th, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
Hey Terry,
I am interested in this business, but am concerned that I am a woman of slight build and very little muscle and would not appear threatening to anyone. In the few threatening cases, such as the guy that parked behind you, I don’t think my inferring that I could put him in the hospital would scare him into moving his car. Do you think it is a safe job for a woman?
Also, how do you afford to fly to all these places and do the job, or do you drive to florida and atlanta etc….and how does 7.00 per hour pay for the time and the gas and wear and tear on the car?
And how is it you can call it a home based business, if you are never at home…I would like it if I can be home more than I am now in my hospital job…is that possible? Teri