How often do you change your mind about something? Do you change your mind as much as many change their cell phones or shoes?
Can you imagine dealing with customers or friends who tell you to order something for them or put it on hold where they don’t put down a deposit, or your friend makes plans with you to do something or go somewhere where you clear your calendar for them and then cancel the very next day? Nice buddies. I have a great job waiting for them in the army reserves.. next stop the Hurt Locker.
Is it possible there are more people who do this than those who don’t among those who initially respond with interest close to a close or sold out deadline? This happened to me — I should get sponsors to fund me being the test dummy. Over the course of just days I received not one, not two, but three separate instances where this happened. When you hear some of the reasons for the change of mind in less than 24 hours you mind will just numb. Who said “good things come in threes”? Are they selling the Brooklyn Bridge?
Case one.. after receiving the information the guest contacted me back “I’m in. How do I register?” .. info sent.. next day the email back read “.. Have to cancel, just found out my ex-wife is expecting..” What the heck?
Case two.. after speaking with the person on phone in the evening and telling them there were no other guests of same gender to share room, they asked to be put on wait list and for me to contact them back if someone else showed up. The very next day another interested party calls, I send them online payment while leaving message for guest from last night’s call. I get call back.. “..when I didn’t hear from you I made other plans and so not available to join the trip..” Double What the freakin’ heck!
Case three.. with one odd person now paid and waiting for one other person what will we do less than two weeks away from the trip date. Well another call comes in what happens? After over ten back and forth emails.. I was about to call. Yeah no kidding they must have been testing their email bandwidth capacity. They finally said in last email.. “its probably too late to register anyway, so they’ll see if they can join my next outing..” Helloooooo, anyone home?? Why would anyone sane person back and forth on emails responding to one question leading to more questions over ten emails if there was no space available? After informing them that there was a space available, they emailed back (am I living Ground Hog Day over again?) that they had not asked their boss, and it would be too late to ask. Now I know there are some dam great drugs going around out there! Okay they began these emails and questions one day with the last one the next day.. that is less than 24 hours of communications. Hmmm I was wondering if the existence of energy vampires in our midst was an urban legend, now I’m a believer!
It would be completely plausible and acceptable that someone may not be interested in something after reading through the details and seeing there isn’t a fit. Although when someone tells you they are interested and to hold a spot.. then to tell you no thanks after you jump through flaming hoops to make it happen for then the hoop may not be the only thing that will be burning.
These three scenarios really happened — you can’t make stories like this up! They all occurred within three weeks before a trip date and all within one week with a three day window of discussion but typically two.
Lessons from the field.. take a deposit or full payment the moment they ask you to hold a spot or put them on the wait list because in God we trust, all others pay cash. Unfortunately, the truth is money is the great equalizer in getting others to keep their commitments. How many people you know would change their minds in less than a day if they stood to lose their payment or deposit for changing their minds? I wasn’t referring to politicians.
The crop of magic mushrooms must be premium quality this year. And so this is how I turn lemons into lemonades.. why get angry when you laugh about it and share the tale with those who are entertained by these zany people in our whacky lives.
As there is nothing you can do nothing about these people you certainly can take care of your economy. Keep it protected, optimize it and keep it clear of distractions that derail you and your purpose.
Are you trustworthy, dependable, committed, focused, and clear? If not don’t fret, it looks like you are in good company 
