The Long Road

So I went to a free seminar on real-estate investment that was advertised in the free local newspaper (I'm so cheap!). I didn't really expect to get TOO much out of it, with a fair understanding that they're not putting on a free seminar to teach you everything you need to know about investing. But still, I had nothing else planned on this Monday night. Attendance was surprisingly sparse, about 25 people from many different walks of life.

What struck me the most was how NEGATIVE the whole thing was. The first question asked was what does the Institute benefit from giving these free seminars. I dont remember the exact answer, but it was very condescending and very indirect. The purpose is to sell us on a 3-day 4000$ course; but that was never said outright. That very much set the tone for the rest of the 90 minutes. In fact, I think I would have appreciated the "seminar" more had the guy been more forthcoming right out of the bat and said "This is a 90 minute preview of the things you can learn if you sign up for our seminar". Instead, it was 90 minutes of the guy talking down to us, saying "you can't compete against professionals", "you're not taking care of your family if you don't sign up", "look at the cool toys you could have". The tactic of guilting us for not following his path in life left me quite unimpressed.

In the end, I didn't sign up for anything, it just wasn't for me. The speaker kept insisting that he would take the two most ambitious on the crowd under his wing personnally to ensure their success ("a couple of you" is what he kept saying). Most ambitious being those who would sign up then and there for the course. I didn't stick around to see if anyone was going to sign up, but man, I hope they didn't sign up out of guilt.

Replies: 4 comments

4000$, 3-day course.
4000$,3 days...

Do you get genital enlargement with it? Free lunch?

Posted by Étienne @ 03/08/2008 11:00 PM EST

ha, i'd go for sure if they included those!

Posted by Long @ 03/09/2008 03:50 PM EST

Why would you admit to your lack of girth?...:P

Posted by dAN @ 03/12/2008 08:47 AM EST

Why would you admit to your lack of girth?...:P

Posted by dAN @ 03/12/2008 08:47 AM EST