Would You Like A Hammer With That?

People who sell nails offer to sell you a hammer to add more value to your purchase.

Whether you need it or not, they really don’t mind. That’s why it’s called an offer. They offer it anyway, and sometimes, could be at a discount too. It’s more revenue for them, so it’s a win-win.

Except you’re running a charity organisation, a free service oftentimes leads to a paid one. If someone renders a free service to you and then tries to convince you to pay for an add-on service, it’s normal. If you get angry at that, then you should’ve gone to a charity organisation instead.

The concept of the upsell has been around long before Christ and is simply a superb way of getting more value for work done. Plus, it boosts your rep, big time.

Rebekah had a shrewd business mind and used it well. I say shrewd because only someone with such abilities can think fast enough to show her favourite son how to package a project execution plan, complete the project and get paid without the client (Isaac) knowing that the contractor (Jacob) was different (Genesis 27:8-18).

Rebekah understood the upsell quite well. So there was no surprise when after offering Abraham’s servant water, she decided to fetch for the camels too (Genesis 24:18-19).

No one needs to tell you that when you see a man with so many camels, there’s wealth lurking somewhere and it’s an opportunity to create an impression and get paid for it.

Whether you’re an employee, volunteer or business owner working at something you like, after you must have given the nails, always try to find out what the hammer could be that’ll make the results of your work many times better. Sooner or later, you’ll be rewarded for it.