Monday, June 27, 2005

Why do people always ask ME for directions?

9:09 AM 5 comments


This story was contributed by Ciprianna Shockley from www.TheResourceRoom.net

After a seminar that I was hosting was cancelled, I didn't want to waste my entire Saturday, so I went to Times Square in NYC and put my business card inside a nametag holder (left over from a networking event) and started handing out business cards.

It started to rain, so I stepped back against the wall of the subway station. And what do you think happended? As the rain began to stop, people were coming up to me asking me for directions! What was weird was that they had to walk out of their way to get to me to ask me for directions. Guess I forgot that I had the business card pinned to my shirt!

Now, this wasn't something that I'd normally do, so it was easy to forget that I was wearing it. I stood there for a couple of hours and noticed that more and more people walked over to me instead of someone closer to them. So, I think I can attribute that behavior to the theory that nametags and/or business cards makes a person more approachable.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...

Are you someone, or do you know someone, who ALWAYS gets asked for directions?

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That guy with the nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

5 comments:

I've always been stopped and asked for directions. I guess I just have one of those trustworthy faces.

Ranks right up there with always being looked to for an authoritative decision, even when I wasn't the one in charge.

I get asked a lot to take photos for people... so either I look trustworthy or I don't look like I can run very fast...

One evening after work, I stopped at our local Wal-Mart SuperCenter to buy groceries. While I was shopping, three different people (2 women, 1 man) in three different aisles asked me where a particular item was located in the store. It was really weird.

Since I came from work, I was wearing a suit and heels, but I don't know if that had anything to do with it. Maybe it was because my cart was fairly full of groceries so they figured I had probably been up and down every aisle (I had).

In any case, I've never forgotten the night I was the interactive store directory for Wal-Mart.

I work in Manhattan- downtown on Wall Street, and my job leaves me going in different places throughout Manhattan.

When I work and or play in Manhattan, so some reason many people ask me subway directions, and or what street is were.

I guess it's because I have a fitted suit on, and I guess I look authoritative. Though ive always wondered why I frequently get asked for directions..also ive noticed an increase in being approached by panhandlers..probably b/c of the economy

Dear Scott, thanks for another super article, i just love this site, thanks for the hard work.

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