Kels and I were driving when the sensor lit up…
“What does RR mean?” I said.
Kelsey looked at the dash. “I dunno,” she said, “rear right?”
“Mm,” I said, “the tire pressure.”
We pulled into a gas station and parked beside the air pump. The sign said: $1 = 5 minutes. I got some quarters from the center counsel.
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“Be right back.”
“Oh kay.”
I got out and put the money in the slot. The air began to flow and I began to pump. I watched the tire inflate. A minute went by. I pressed the tire with my thumb. It felt good again.
“Young man?”
I turned around.
“Can I borrow that?” he said, pointing at the hose with his cane. His car was parked behind mine. He had a flat, too.
“Sure,” I said. “Need a hand?”
The man smiled behind his mask. “Thanks for not making me ask.”
I took a knee and pumped while we made small talk. We talked about his family, his children. We talked about the weather, the snow. Then it was quiet for a moment.
“You smoke?” he said.
I looked up. “Sometimes.”
“Well then take this,” he said, holding out a cigar. “It’s a $20 cigar, a very good cigar.”
I said no and waved my hand. He insisted. “Please,” he said.
The Rule of Reciprocity tells us it’s human to want to return a gesture.
We’re programmed to give value after getting value. And here’s the thing: we tend to give back far more than we originally received.
The key is to give something to someone as a gift (as opposed to a request or a thank you). Yes, the reciprocation mindset is only activated when someone receives a “no strings attached” gift.
This is how small, free samples turn into big sales.
Give away your content, your expertise, your time — and it will come back to you in spades.
LEARN TO PERSUADE
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