Dec. 2, 2021

Cuenca, ECUADOR – “I can meet you in the Plaza de San Sebastián in front of the Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno”.

Those were the instructions my wife received from a local she had just connected with through a Facebook group of Expats living here in Cuenca.

If you’ve been tolerating my business newsletter/travelogue for a while, you will know that my wife and I have been exploring Mexico and Panama up to now. You can find those back issues here.   

A week ago, we landed in Ecuador, where we plan to hang out for a couple of months.

Why?

Well, because……😊

Actually 1), because we can and I can run my business from basically anywhere on the planet, as long as I can find decent Wi-Fi. (motivated individuals apply here) and

2) we are exploring options on where best to avoid 6 months of winter.

But this week’s article isn’t about where best to be a “Snowbird” or where to retire overseas. Like every issue, I try to give you an interesting and entertaining story with a business lesson attached.

So, back to our new Cuencan friend – Martin.

While I was putting in my “minimum” 10 hours of work last week, my wife was busy surfing the ‘net and joining groups so she would have an itinerary for us once I was freed up. You know, getting the lowdown on the usual items when traveling, like best coffee places, dining, sites, and for us, where we could find folks to hit a tennis ball with.

Our new friend Martin is a member of one of these groups and answered a few of my wife’s queries. Soon enough, the two of them are private messaging back and forth – all without my knowledge…..🤔

During a break in my calls or perhaps later in the afternoon, she asks me if we can meet this fellow at 11:00 the next day. He’s our new guide and he’s offered to give us a tour of the old city – for free.

Well, sounds pretty nice I reply – as long as I can stop at 1:00 and if necessary 3:00 for a coffee and free wi-fi as I’ve some calls to make.

And with that simple exchange, our day was planned for the morrow.

Martin, it turned out, is an Ecuadorian who was actually raised in New York! So that took care of worrying about conversing in Spanish. He had owned a good-sized tour company here in Cuenca but that was now gone due to government pandemic lockdowns in the country and elsewhere, shutting down tourism.

As a result, he was back to being a one-man band. And assisting folks like us, online, with our questions. So, we received one amazing tour. Including taking us into to 5-star hotels to show us an unbelievable hidden garden at one and a rooftop restaurant that would be the envy of the world, at the other. Plus, assistance in obtaining our passes for the new tram that runs east-west through the center of the city.

Then, during a coffee break, where I had a zoom call with a client, he and my wife began outlining possible side-trips over the next month in the area…..

One of those trips we did on Sunday – where Martin arranged a driver and van and took us deep into one of the jewels of Ecuador: Cajas National Park. Once there, he lead us on a great 3 hour hike, up into a valley to a high pass of some 4000 meters, that few visit, where we had an unmatched view of dozens of pretty lakes – no roads and no people.

It was an impeccable display of one of the best marketing strategies I teach – the upsell! 😎

All done by first providing service and value. Which Martin did and does, through the groups. Followed-up with a compelling offer – free guided tour! Then selling a daytrip.

What is next for us and Martin?

Hard to say. For sure we are planning something. A good review and testimonial to boot.

What about you?

Are you showing up where your best prospects are hanging out and providing value – free of charge – without attempting to outright sell? Are then moving some conversations to a private sphere – like private messenger or a short zoom chat? And asking questions like a doctor, to see if you can help them and in what way.

If and when appropriate, then giving a compelling offer – free, risk-free, low-price etc. That is, getting a “sale” no matter how small so you can get a customer?

If you are not – then now is a good a time as any to begin. Use the free resources I have on my site (hughtafel.com) or take advantage of the offer below.

Until next time…

To your health and success

- Hugh
The “Profit Accelerator” Expert
StreetSmartsMBA.org

P.S. If you’d like more leads, sales, profits and success from your local business, then our Profit Acceleration process is for you. Simply go to StreetSmartsMBA.org to get started – risk-free.

*********************************************
★ BECOME A HIGHLY PAID BUSINESS COACH WITH #1 COACHING PLATFORM ★
I am looking for individuals to help handle the exploding global demand for business
coaching services. I’m willing to train [at my expense] the right individual with a
passion for wanting to help small business owners become successful.
NO travel - work from home. $225,000 first year income. If you or someone you
know is interested, click here and an 8 minute video will explain it all.