Day 1 Doorknocking (EDJ)
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I’m new to the forum and figured I should introduce myself. I just finished KYC and today was my first day of Field Foundations.
I started at about 11 AM, hoping to catch people on lunch break. I hit about 30 houses before it started raining hard, and didn’t have much success. 5 People answered their doors, which was pretty disappointing but I think I just need to try a different time of day. Of those 5, 3 immediately shut the door after I introduced myself, 1 was a client of one of the FAs in town, and the other invited me in to smoke a joint with him (college town). I didn’t even get a chance to ask any financial questions.
Did anyone else’ first day go as poorly as mine?
[quote=Mr.Blonde], what you didn’t ask what the going price was for a half-bag?[/quote]
Haha. I didn’t think it would be a good idea to walk around reeking of pot all day! I’ve heard lots of funny stories, but I didn’t think I’d get one on my first trip out.
Seriously though, I think my first day of doorknocking I got 13 contacts. The next morning I knew I had to get it together and came away with 38 after a full day. I learned to get more efficient over time and pushed through, but you have to get up the next mornig. Good luck!
No. I got 25 contacts in about 3 hours. 5 new clients eventually. Sun was shining, no dogs, no kids. It was picture perfect.
OK, just kidding. Actually I drove around for about 2 hours looking for the right parking spot. I don't even remember what happened after that. I think I've repressed the memory. However, it got easier and better every day from there on out. Keep at it.Why were you trying to ask financial questions? The most successful Jones Broker on this board starts his doorknocking conversations talking about fishing.I’m new to the forum and figured I should introduce myself. I just finished KYC and today was my first day of Field Foundations.
I started at about 11 AM, hoping to catch people on lunch break. I hit about 30 houses before it started raining hard, and didn’t have much success. 5 People answered their doors, which was pretty disappointing but I think I just need to try a different time of day. Of those 5, 3 immediately shut the door after I introduced myself, 1 was a client of one of the FAs in town, and the other invited me in to smoke a joint with him (college town). I didn’t even get a chance to ask any financial questions.
Did anyone else’ first day go as poorly as mine?
[quote=Spaceman Spiff]No. I got 25 contacts in about 3 hours. 5 new clients eventually. Sun was shining, no dogs, no kids. It was picture perfect.
OK, just kidding. Actually I drove around for about 2 hours looking for the right parking spot. I don't even remember what happened after that. I think I've repressed the memory. However, it got easier and better every day from there on out. Keep at it. [/quote]Haha. I thought you were serious for a second... I think the more I do it, the easier it'll get. Thanks for the help!
Why were you trying to ask financial questions? The most successful Jones Broker on this board starts his doorknocking conversations talking about fishing.[/quote][quote=EJRookie]I’m new to the forum and figured I should introduce myself. I just finished KYC and today was my first day of Field Foundations.
I started at about 11 AM, hoping to catch people on lunch break. I hit about 30 houses before it started raining hard, and didn’t have much success. 5 People answered their doors, which was pretty disappointing but I think I just need to try a different time of day. Of those 5, 3 immediately shut the door after I introduced myself, 1 was a client of one of the FAs in town, and the other invited me in to smoke a joint with him (college town). I didn’t even get a chance to ask any financial questions.
Did anyone else’ first day go as poorly as mine?
Yeah, I know. I'm asking lots of personal questions, the typical "lawn looks great, how long in the area, how'd I catch you at home" stuff. I'm trying to follow the model they gave us in KYC, at least until I find out that it doesn't work.
It does work, Spiffs feedback was spot on. I posted a thread will all I learned a while back you might look it up for some ideas.
Why were you trying to ask financial questions? The most successful Jones Broker on this board starts his doorknocking conversations talking about fishing.[/quote][quote=BerkshireBull][quote=EJRookie]I’m new to the forum and figured I should introduce myself. I just finished KYC and today was my first day of Field Foundations.
I started at about 11 AM, hoping to catch people on lunch break. I hit about 30 houses before it started raining hard, and didn’t have much success. 5 People answered their doors, which was pretty disappointing but I think I just need to try a different time of day. Of those 5, 3 immediately shut the door after I introduced myself, 1 was a client of one of the FAs in town, and the other invited me in to smoke a joint with him (college town). I didn’t even get a chance to ask any financial questions.
Did anyone else’ first day go as poorly as mine?
Yeah, I know. I'm asking lots of personal questions, the typical "lawn looks great, how long in the area, how'd I catch you at home" stuff. I'm trying to follow the model they gave us in KYC, at least until I find out that it doesn't work.
[/quote] That won't take long. I haven't used sensible investing since, oh, day 1. Or the tablet. I loved the folding the log and using the EDJ & You brochure idea. Berk Bull was being facetious. It was a jab at windy. Good luck out there. The first day is by far the worst.
My very first house I visited (after the same 2 hour parking spot hunt like spiff) yelled at me saying he was calling the cops on me. Later that week I had an old guy that obviously had some serious mental problems answer the door butt naked holding his junk.
You'll have plenty of good/peculiar stories but it will get better, easier, and you'll learn how to make better use of your time. It's been 10 years since I door knocked but I think most the guys that have success hit the doors between 9-11 and 4-7. Maybe spend some of the middle of the day to log contacts and write thankyous from the previous day.Got propositioned for a threesome on day 2 and what I believe was a porn shoot a couple of weeks ago.
The one I remember most, though, is this obese boy, probably 10 yrs old who answers the door in his stretched out tighty whities. He has koolaid/popsicle red all around his mouth. I could barely keep from laughing. As soon as he closes the door his father is yelling at him, “you don’t answer the door in your underwear son!” The image is forever burned in my memory.
If you are hot like Ms Broker doorknocking is easy, if you are some random dude walking the streets it sucks !
So, Captain underpants had Kool-Aid stains around his mouth? If he's drinking Kool-Aid already, you should have recruited him. Could help you win a div trip.
Thanks for the help, guys! Day 1 was pretty discouraging, but it has to be done. I’m actually looking forward to getting better at this. I don’t plan on using the tablet (I think it creeps people out). The FA who’s doing my GoodKnight gave me a nice Jones padfolio, so I’m using the folded logs clipped to the cover. I feel a little better with the padfolio in my hand than I would with the tablet or just the logs.
I’ll be with my field trainer for the next few days, I’ll let you know how day 2 goes…
[quote=Mr.Blonde]Goodknight? uh oh[/quote]
Dammit. 1/2 the FAs I talk to are jealous, the other 1/2 act like it’s a contagious disease. What’s your take on it, Mr. Blonde?
I say take it and run. You have some credibility because you won't be working out of the trunk of your car and when a prospect asks where your office is you won't have to answer "we're working on negotiating my lease". I took over a small office of 3 million when I was a Jones and very little was worthwhile as I was the third person but it was better than nothing. I left to take over more at a CU so I can relate to being despised by colleagues, to hell with them I say. Just don't get too comfortable, you're probably getting the bottom of the barrel of the FA's clients, CD rate whores and PAC plans so just keep prospecting and act like they're not even there. How big a GK did you get?[quote=Mr.Blonde]Goodknight? uh oh[/quote]
Dammit. 1/2 the FAs I talk to are jealous, the other 1/2 act like it’s a contagious disease. What’s your take on it, Mr. Blonde?
Logs. You know, trees that have been cut down. Then we shred them and hire a company to turn them into paper. We then print a contact log with 10 sections to keep notes of your doorknocks on. Address, name, phone numbers, first and second contact notes, date, time, etc.Logs? WTF?
Doorknocking initially is uncomfortable as it is, so do whatever makes you feel comfortable. I don’t doorknock much anymore, but when I do I try only to carry the brochures and keep the logs folded up in my pocket sort of informally. I also (when whether permits) would only wear a shirt and tie (no suit). I tried to be professional, but not stuffy, so people would actually answer the door and not think I represented some religious organization or political campaign. I wouldn’t write anything on the log unless I got their permission to call them, making a quick note as I walked away from the house with the most memorable/important information just so I knew I was their later on should I return to the street.
The first couple of weeks suck until you find what you really feel good doing. After that, do your best to appreciate that you are on a salary (albeit a small one) to go and just meet people. A lot of vets told me, and it is something I am starting to understand, that while you don't stress as much about the production things later on, you do still kind of miss the opportunity to walk around the neighborhood without thinking about what is going on at the office. While I wouldn't trade it for what I do now, it is not the worst thing in the world.