Can you handle 7 seconds of silence to change the world?
After you invite someone to give:
stop talking.
This might be the most difficult part of fundraising.
Don’t fill the air. Don’t talk them out of giving.
Ask and be quiet. Do not speak until they respond to your question.
Not sure you can be quiet? Try this.
As soon as you finish asking, start slowly counting off the seconds in your head.
If you get to 20 seconds, keep waiting.
If you get to 40 seconds, keep waiting.
No matter how long it takes them to respond, keep waiting.
In my experience, most people respond within about 7 seconds.
7 seconds can feel like an eternity, but I promise you… it’s still only 7 seconds.
Can you handle 7 seconds of possibly awkward silence?
Seems like a small price to pay to change the world.
