I don’t make a habit of telling people off.
In fact, I’m way more likely to be a pushover than a hothead in most situations. But not always.
At the end of last year, I started exploring options to refinance and pay off my credit card debt. That’s when I stumbled upon something called debt negotiation, a service that promises to reduce your debt by up to 50% and set up a payment plan at a more reasonable interest rate.
It sounded promising, so I filled out a form on a website and scheduled a call.
The elaborate questionnaire and funnel to a phone call should have tipped me off about what I was stepping into, but I was determined to explore all my options, including this one.
The woman on the phone was friendly, professional and very well trained. Slick, even. She asked about the specifics of my situation, and when I explained it, she responded with deep moral outrage: “That’s just horrible! Credit card companies should never be allowed to do that!”
And I said, “That’s just how it works. It wasn’t my smartest move, but it’s not evil. It was my choice.”
The sales rep was clearly using a tactic to empathize with my pain to influence me. I felt myself bristle.
A few minutes later, she was asking for my bank account number to set everything up for me automatically. And I felt something rise in me. Fire. Dragon fire.
“Wait a second,” I said. “I never told you I wanted to do this. You didn’t even ask.”
She kept pushing.
“What I’ve found is that when people say they need time, it usually means they have more questions. Do you have more questions?”
My voice was firm. “No. I need time to go over the details. I’ll decide after I do some more research.”
I hung up the phone feeling a mix of shame, confusion and most of all, anger. I was pissed.
The whole call was scripted to manipulate my emotions and walk me seamlessly into a “yes” before I understood what I was saying yes to.
And I’m so glad I didn’t.
Later on I found out those services often make things worse, and are only worth considering as a last resort.
That experience reminded me of why I refuse to use pressure tactics in my business, especially when it comes to selling my coaching services.
I believe in being as clear as I can about what’s on offer and supporting your clarity about whether it’s for you or not. That’s my job, not pushing or overcoming objections.
It’s not just a belief; it’s essential for the kind of deep, transformational coaching I do.
Because if someone starts a coaching relationship with me before they know in their heart and soul that it’s right, we’re building on shaky ground.
We’re here for a foundation of trust and love.
So, sometimes I’ll slow people down. I’ll ask them to sit with it until their thoughts have settled. And if they aren’t feeling sure, I encourage them to take their time.
Even if it means they say no or walk away.
Because the people I work with are creating things in the world that are too important to be tainted with manipulation or pressure. They’re here to be moved from inner knowing, not fear or greed.
Have you ever felt pressured into something you later regretted? Or stood your ground like a dragon? Coment below and tell me—I’d love to hear your story.
Yours in love and play,
Steph
P.S. If you’ve been feeling the pull to deepen your work and grow your business with more ease, trust, and alignment, maybe it’s time we had a conversation. I won’t push, just invite. Let’s talk.
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