STORIES
~2000. My equipment finance business is receiving a lot of business from a decision I had made to invest time in learning SEO. I was at or near the top of most search engines’ results for keywords like ‘equipment finance’ and ‘equipment leasing.’ When the young upstart, Google, came into the game in 1998, I jumped on it. Investing in expensive SEO-related software, and paying a whole bunch for pay-per-clicks. (For many years I had TWO results in the top ten of a Google search — one organic (coding only; no cost), and one PPC.)
~2000. A Sportsing Story..My equipment finance business is receiving a lot of business from my having put a lot of time into learning SEO. We was at or near the top of most search engines’ results for keywords like ‘equipment finance’ and ‘equipment leasing.’ When the young upstart, Google, came into the game in 1998, I jumped on it. Investing in expensive SEO-related software, and paying a whole bunch for pay-per-clicks. (For many years I had TWO results in the top ten of a Google search — one organic (coding only; no cost), and one PPC.).One of those Google searchers, Tim, called me. “We’re investigating leasing a package of equipment (~$ 60,000) for one of our private convalescent home.” Tim and I had the normal first-call conversation. In response to my “are you the decision-maker?” he told that he was a lawyer who is the Assistant to the President of a closely held firm. “You might know of the owner — Conrad Dobler. While I’ve never been a football fan, I’d heard the name. I searched it online and was impressed — “The Meanest Man in Football” said one magazine..“And don’t worry, Barry. I’ve been with Conrad a long time. He always agrees to whatever I negotiate.” Uh-oh. But as we continued talking over the next few days, I came to believe that this very bright guy was for real. We bargained over the details. It was, ultimately, a win-win. Before the end of the week, one of my banks agreed to buy the deal. Sign him up!.I called Tim and told him we were sending a contract. I asked him to confirm that Mr. Dobler, not he, would be signing. “No problem. Conrad will sign whatever I tell him to.” Roseanne, my assistant, prepared the documents and FEDEX them out. Mid-morning the next day, Roseanne said “Mr. Dobler is on the phone.” .I picked up in my office and heard, “What the fuck kind of fucking rate is this. I wouldn’t sign this piece of shit if my life depended on it.” And he hung up..Some deals just don’t work.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of those Google searchers, Tim, called me. “We are investigating leasing a package of equipment (~$ 60,000) for one of our private convalescent home.” We had the normal first-call conversation. In response to my “are you the decision-maker?” he told that he was a lawyer who is the Assistant to the President of a closely held firm. “You might know of the owner — Conrad Dobler. While I’ve never been a football fan, I’d heard the name. I searched it online and was impressed — “The Meanest Man in Football” said one magazine.
“And don’t worry, Barry. I’ve been with Conrad a long time. He always agrees to whatever I negotiate.” Uh-oh. But as we continued talking over the next few days, I came to believe that this very bright guy was for real. We bargained over the details. It was, ultimately, a win-win. Before the end of the week, one of my banks agreed to buy the deal. Sign him up!
I called Tim and told him we were sending a contract. I asked him to confirm that Mr. Dobler, not he, would be signing. “No problem. Conrad will sign the contract. I had Roseanne, my assistant, prepare the documents and FEDEX them out. Mid-morning the next day, Roseanne said “Mr. Dobler is on the phone.” I picked up in my office and heard, “What the fuck kind of fucking rate is this. I wouldn’t sign this piece of shit if my life depended on it.” And he hung up.
Some deals just don’t work.
3. Conrad Dobler Conrad Dobler was a master of intimidation. He’d play clean in the first quarter of a game just so the defense would be worried about his upcoming move. He was labeled “Pro Football’s Dirtiest Player” in 1977
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