Five Lazy Ways You Can Advance Liberty
in Three Minutes

     by Michael Cloud


"It's not dumb. It's smart," said Beverly. "Better than that, it's lazy."

"Lazy is better than smart?" I asked.

"Absolutely! I'll tell you why if you take me out for dinner tonight. Do we have a deal?"

Me and my big mouth. That's what I get for criticizing what she was doing. I agreed, took her to dinner, and learned five lazy ways to make more money -- and advance liberty.

Beverly was a real estate saleswoman. It was the early 1980s -- and she had been selling houses for only 14 months. She consistently earned over $10,000 a month -- three times what most seasoned professionals were pulling down. She didn't make her commissions from one or two big sales. Her home sales were regular, reliable, and rewarding. Month in and month out.

What was she doing that I called "dumb"?

Paying her monthly bills -- and including her business cards with the payments.

That's why I told her, "You're wasting your time. The people processing your bills are going to throw away your business cards. Nobody's going to call you. It's a dumb thing to do."

That's why I ended up paying for dinner -- and learning something incredibly valuable.

Here's what she told me.

"Number One. Every month, I pay my bills by check. Electricity, gas, water, telephone, Visa, MasterCard, car payment, and rent. I donate $20 a month to four charities I want to help," said Beverly. "Every month, I include two of my business cards -- one for the person who opens my envelope, another for a family member or friend. My business cards cost two cents each -- and it takes a few seconds to pop them in each envelope with my check."

"What happened? Did you luck into a sale -- and convince yourself to keep doing it?" I asked.

"I've already earned over $30,000 this year from this and four other quick and easy things," she said. "Five lazy ways -- that take me less than three minutes a week -- and I get paid and extra $30,000. Every year. Does that sound lucky -- or smart?"

"What else are you doing?" I asked.

"Number two. Whenever I spend money with a small business, I hand them two business cards, and say `One for you and one for a friend. If you have any questions about buying or selling a home -- even if you're just thinking about it -- I can get your questions answered... with no obligation. Just phone me. Okay?'

"I do this when I drop off or pick up my dry cleaning, get my hair done, see my chiropractor, visit my dentist or doctor, go to my video rental store, or take my cats to the vet. If there's a receptionist and a professional, I give each of them my card. No pressure. No rejection. Warm, easy, and simple.

"Number three. Whenever I go out for a meal or a drink, I give the waitress two of my business cards with the tip. One for them and one for a friend. Once again, I simply offer to answer any questions. Waitresses are usually friendly, so if they hear another waitress or co-worker or customer mention buying or selling a house, they often give the second card to that person -- and suggest that he call me to get his questions answered.

"Number four. Every time I mail a thank-you note, a birthday card, or a Christmas card, I include two of my business cards.

"Number five. Whenever I drive past a public library, I go in, find the real estate and mortgage books, and slide my business cards inside each one of them. My tax dollars are helping to fund the library. Why not let them earn me enough to get back my tax dollars?

"$30,000 extra every year," she said. "Just from five lazy ways and three minutes each week. Was that worth dinner -- or a lot more?"

"A lot more," I said.

"Good... because you're taking me dancing," she smiled. Then she gave our dinner waiter two of her business cards with my tip -- and invited him to call.

How would you like to make the same impact with libertarianism?

You can. Starting this week.

You can use the Five Lazy Ways to Advance Liberty.

Do exactly what Beverly did above -- with three small changes.

A. Use the World's Smallest Political Quiz --- instead of business cards.

B. When Beverly hands her card to people she's spending money with, she says, "One for you and one for a friend. If you have any questions about buying or selling a home -- even if you're just thinking about it -- I can get your questions answered... with no obligation. Just phone me. Okay?"

When you hand the World's Smallest Political Quiz to people you're spending money with, you say, "Have you seen the World's Smallest Political Quiz yet? It's interesting and fun, it takes about two minutes, and I really enjoyed taking it. Over 3,500 people take this Quiz every day -- and I wanted you to have as much fun with it as I did. Here's one for you and one for a friend. Enjoy!"

C. When you go to the public library -- or school library if you're a student -- put the Quiz in the political, economic, and current events books. And in Atlas Shrugged.

You can use all five lazy ways -- or pick and choose the two or three you like best.

Experiment with them.

You can get 100 of the World's Smallest Political Quiz cards for just $6. Enough for three months. Or 200 copies for just $10. Enough for six months.

Order them from the Advocates online Liberty Store.

Or order your Quizzes by phone, toll-free 800-932-1776, or by mail, The Liberty Building, 213 S. Erwin St., Cartersville, GA 30120.

You can help make a difference. With the Five Lazy Ways You Can Advance Liberty in 3 Minutes.

(Note: "Beverly" is a pseudonym, but she's a real person.)


About the author: Persuasion coach and professional speech-writer Michael Cloud Is the "Persuasion Power Point" columnist for the world's largest-circulation libertarian publication, the Liberator Online (where this article originally appeared). He is creator and presenter of the popular "Art of Libertarian Persuasion" seminar and of the "Essence of Political Persuasion" audio learning program. In 2000, he was voted the Most Persuasive Libertarian Communicator in America and honored with the Thomas Paine Award at the Libertarian Party national convention. He is the author of the book Secrets of Libertarian Persuasion, available exclusively from the Advocates.


Contents copyrighted © The Advocates for Self-Government,, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization. Donations tax-deductible in U.S. All rights reserved.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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