I got a call from someone I apparently met at a networking event, asking if I’d be interested in an exchange of services. He said he was a Harvard Journalist on call, an accomplished writer and self-published author…would I agree to meet with him?

He offered: in exchange for his writing in my blog, I would agree to provide a link back to his website. Didn’t sound so terrible. The prospect peeked my curiosity so I agreed to meet with this person and get the details.

In my mind, I thought this meeting could be great for me because I have been struggling with writing my latest book and it would be a good idea to make friends with someone so accomplished.

What crossed my mind was, if this person is so successful, why is he contacting me? I am small potatoes and could hardly offer him a good acknowledgement.

When he approached me, I was immediately struck by his unkemptness; he needed a hair-cut and clean cloths. The shirt he wore looked like it hadn’t been washed for a long time with its shirt collar curled at the fold. It looked very dirty to me. Was he as well?

Immediately, I was taken aback, thinking that this person was successful?

I believe success comes from within, not something determined by what others think success is for another. But, when one has reached a point of success in their mind, usually it follows that a good appearance would reflect how one thinks of himself. At least, that has been my experience, one always wants to make a good impression.

The next thing I noticed about him was his insincerity. He asked me a question and, without listening to my reply, he bound right into what he was going to do for me, that he would make me successful, for a price of course. WOW, all this from someone I’ve just met who knows nothing about me or my accomplishments nor did he think that I may consider myself successful.

When I asked why he thought I was not successful, he pointed to a comment I made about not having sold the number of books that I would like to have sold. His assumption was, I am not successful. His assumptions of me didn’t stop there, however.

I felt he was being very unprofessional in his dialog, not ever asking me what I thought of his ideas.

He ranted on about how successful he was, that he has helped so many others and, how I needed his services to make me successful. He finally got around to how he could help me with my new book. He didn’t ask about specifics about the book, only that he will make me very successful.

While flipping through the pages of my three books that I brought along to discuss with him, he tells me there is no content in these books, they won’t sell. He may be right but, I thought it would be best to at least read through the books first, before making any comment about them.

I am beginning to feel a con coming.

He would make me successful he said, by writing my book collaboratively with me and in conjunction with his marketing. WOW, I was to be so impressed with this offer that I was to jump at the opportunity to pay him ten-thousand dollars to help me!

All the time this person talked, not once did he make eye contact with me. As he talked, I noticed he not just glanced his gaze past me rather, he looked past me completely.

My experience tells me that if someone will not look you in the eye as they are speaking to you, do not trust them.

Trusting my instincts; I do not trust this person! How could I even think to pay this person ten-thousand dollars to help me write my new book? Was this the con or, was there more to come?

Thinking I am about to get ripped-off, I chose to end this conversation telling him that I didn’t trust someone who made such accusations or assertions of one’s success and, without taking the time to know more about that other person or his limitations and aspirations.

I left the conversation convinced I had just witnessed a potential con upon myself!

Always trust your instincts!