One of my favorite movies is The Thomas Crown Affair. I love everything about it – the plot, the soundtrack, Rene Russo’s giant jams. Something new jumps at me every time I watch the movie. Peak Pierce Brosnan is one of my favorite actors, and the cat and mouse game between he and Russo is pure joy.
There are parallels between The Thomas Crown Affair and garage sales. Applying lessons from one discipline to another is called idea sex, and since most of you reading this are focused on DeFi and Autistic ventures this might be the closest you get to sex until 2035; I once went seventeen years without sex, you’ll be ok.
Follow the below lessons and you’ll develop skills for navigating the Fourth Turing as well as maybe having your own ‘sex near a statue’ moment.
Learn to negotiate. Ahhh, the skill thousands of people write about. How to win a negotiation, how to not care and win a negotiation, how to negotiate with women (as Bane would say – admirable, but mistaken). Garage and estate sales are perfect for negotiations. Prices are tagged, not set. See that first offer and try for something lower.
One technique is to tell a story and anchor. For example, strike up a conversation with the owner and mention how popsicles were on sale for $2.99 at Walmart and you were shocked they were so low. Use that Anchor to ask for the $30 play set for $15. That $2.99 anchor frames the conversation to a lower level, and $15 compared to $2.99 is a DEAL. It might be easier to use a similar anchor. “How are you? I’m great! Looking for a doll house. I saw some on facebook market for $10 but not sure they fit my daughter.” Drop that anchor low and see where it’ll go.
Both garage and estate sales also have an underlying potential liquidity issue, as in people do not normally sell their stuff unless money is needed. Be ruthless yet respectful when dropping anchors or negotiating. Let’s say you get a few wins – get 50% lower but tip the lemonade stand in front $50 trash tokens. Never hose someone from their own possessions without a fat tip, it is bad karma.
Since there is a THEME to this post, here is the scene where Thomas tries to make a deal with Catherine Banning. Yes, we wanna see it but not the painting. Virtuoso writing.
Women love garage and estate sales. Are these normally the women you are into or are set to arrive to DeGen Island? Probably not. However, they still have faces, desire, and in some cases, are dying for any excitement in their lives. Public events like these are ripe for trying out material in low stakes. Great to see stuff sticks AND to see how to vibe AFTER you land a line. The art of the back and forth is underrated, and a true cocksmen knows anyone with real game keeps the cat pawing for more.
Watch Thomas Crown play with his dinner guest. This is my favorite scene in the movie. Espresso. Perfect timing and misdirection. Even though it is a movie, that’s A++. Try out your own material, see what gets a laugh but MOST importantly – push the conversation. If it is fun and worthwhile, ask them out. If things get hot and heavy, go for the kill. IT’S A GARAGE SALE! When is the last time a woman was properly hit on at a garage sale? Ever? Exactly. Go for the gold.
Story Telling. An underrated aspect of the movie is the subplot of how two alphas can ever learn to trust each other. Thomas makes a veteran move in getting Catherine jealous by being photographed with another woman. “How else would I know,” he says after THEN making the loser move of chasing after the distraught woman. Seriously, this was 1999 and the middle of some New York park, what was her plan? Pull a Kevin McAllister and befriend a wise homeless woman? Catherine Banning was a tough woman, but she was bouggie AF, do not see her bonding with homeless zookeepers.
Anyhow, story telling! Older people have garage sales because they have more stuff. Ask them stories about their items. Listen to the detail given, the emotion in the voice, how they visually describe their children growing up in the crib. Notice the pride they have discussing the first time their son stood up in the crib, or how their daughter would coo when they shook the rattle a certain way. That feeling you get when hearing those stories? THAT is where you need to get to move and inspire others. You’ll need a thousand reps to get there, but that feeling and those visuals are at your disposal. Too lazy to ask someone to tell you about their things? Go look at some of YOUR old things and ask a relative about them. Capture that feeling, those tears.
Garage sales can unlock your speaking potential, one click of the mental gears at a time. Your faceless man moment awaits.