Every time I approach someone there is a crucial couple of seconds or minutes where I have to establish credibility and a rapport with the person that I speak with. Here in Washington, we have lots of people who come up to strangers asking for things whether it be money or their support on a petition, etc. So, many people get conditioned to just saying “no” to everyone who approaches them.
A critical element of my success in getting so many people to hear me out is the fact that I have a business card that I give them. It somehow gives me credibility and the impression that what I am doing is legitimate. Well, I recently ran out of cards and thankfully the same company that helped me out with the original batch of cards came to my rescue again! You may recall that when Zazzle.com heard about my project back in January they were so excited about it that they let me design my own card and then donated 500 of them to me to help me out. It’s great to see companies that step up and help others out.
I designed these cards and then Zazzle.com gave them to me for free! (photo: Reed)
If you like to design things (anything, from business cards to mugs to t-shirts) go online and you can design your products and then put your design in the public domain so that others can see your work. Then if someone wants to purchase your design you get paid! How cool is that?! They are called “Skinny Cards” because of their smaller (3” x 1”) than normal size. Here’s a link to my template. People constantly comment on how much the love my cards. Thanks Zazzle!!!
Today’s giving story is a bit enigmatic. I met Johnnie as he sat on a bench near the Dupont Metro North entrance/exit. At first he said that he couldn’t accept the $10. He liked the idea and said that he wouldn’t keep the money but he thought that I would probably do a better job of finding a person who “deserved it.” Johnnie, who works for Metro, encouraged me to find someone else, but after I explained to him that if everyone did that my “reach” would only be as far as the area which I travel each day. But since he and others live in different communities and travel to other parts of the city and world that he could broaden the pool of potential people that my project touches.
We went back and forth on this for a while, maybe 20 minutes. I figured I wasn’t going to convince the 46-year-old DC resident but finally he said, “You know what, give me that $10, I think I know what I am going to do with it.” He said he had to go catch his bus and I didn’t have time to get a picture or anything of Johnnie. I did get his phone number quickly as he left and have tried calling it the last two days but I get a message saying that the person is “not accepting phone calls at this time.” Maybe he needs to use the $10 to pay his phone bill!
Hopefully I can reach him and then update this post.
Year of Giving 
It might be that the “not accepting phone calls at this time” is because your phone number has been blocked [not on purpose] but I know my sister in law has a device on her phone that will block calls based on a criteria [don’t know what it is]
YAY for Zazzle. I will definitely be looking into them I love the skinny cards too. Neat.
Love reading your posts, and am knowing and trusting that you are making a huge difference in the World. Thank you!
JB, San Diego
Hey JB, I appreciate the kind words and thanks for checking in from San Diego!
I found you in that list “the 10 weirdest hobbies” and as I was curious, I came here to check on your blog.
I felt touched by your idea, and by your constancy..and I’ve been coming here for a while, waiting everyday for your post and the new story you’re talking about.
I don’t even know why I’m writing today, of all days, but I really wanted to comunicate you that there’s one more person following and supporting you from afar! 🙂
[ah, by the way, I’m from Venice, Italy..wonders of the internet, your story made it around the world! 🙂 ]
Arianna, thanks so much for writing. Great to know that Venice is part of the Year of Giving. I have been there almost 10 years ago and really enjoyed it, although my favorite place in Italy was San Gimignano. – Hugs from Washington, DC – Reed
Read Arianna’s comment-
It seems this is not so much a hobby for you as it is a mission. Whatever you call it you are making a difference just by giving so many something to think about.