Hi Sarill again
My mate who I work with sees door knocking as being sociable and his thing is 'isn't it great to talk to people' which he often does till the cows come home.
My own veiw of those who say 'no thanks' is that I couldn't care less as all I'm doing is simply asking and people are entitled to say 'no'. I don't think in terms of how many houses I've already called on or the next house untill I'm there.
It's also a numbers game (again) in that if you call on enough people then some will say 'yes' and the 'no's' are simply a part of that process. It's the same for companies except that especially with companies, I find that I tend to think on how I could have said it better and then try that next time.
One hidden advantage of door knocking is that if you do get a job then sometimes neighbours will come out and ask you to do theirs as you have already spoken to them as you are not a complete stranger. Also in area's like that we always make a racket with the ladders so as people close by look out their windows.
I think also terminology both in terms of self talk in our heads and in spoken (or written) words matters a lot. Really people who don't want their windows cleaned aren't 'rejections' or rejecting your offer - they simply don't want or need a window cleaner.
I am constantly correcting the other two in terms of their language. The last wet day when we went canvasing it was 'why does no one anywhere down this street want a window cleaner'. It wasn't that 'no one' or 'anywhere' or anything like it- it was that most people were out and that someone told the other two to f**k off.
These things happen. No one gets more work by only calling on only acceptable nice people where 1 in a precise set number says 'yes'.
How I started door knocking was to give myself a time limit before stopping for (dare I say it) a fAg break. Then I would knock on doors for the same amount of time again. Next rainy day I would increase the time by a few minutes. Then the next rainy day by a few more minutes and so on. To start with the hardest doors I knocked on was those after I was thoroughly fed up with getting no where. Now I simply knock on doors because from time to time - it's what I do with no real veiw of the numbers who want a w/c.
In terms of canvasing companies or offices or where ever, I say to myself 'just do it' and block out all other thoughts and walk through the door. It's the old thing of comfort zones. I think stepping outside them is a good thing and I keep that in mind because afterwards, it feels good whether I'm successfull or not.
Also, the people I speak to are just like me, a person. They are not going to kill me, or beat me up or torture me. The worst they can do is be rude or say 'no'.
Just make a point every week of calling on a set number of houses even if it's a few and increase it by one house a week. That repetitive action will give confidence and immunity to the 'no's' and often how we feel inside reflects how successfull we are. Give it a go. You will lose nothing by trying. Then one day walk into a company and just ask.
Cheers and I hope the above helps in some way.
Ross
