It’s always easier to work for a business or organization when you believe in the cause. When buying my first car from a dealership, I remember asking the salesman what he drove and he sheepishly answered (truthfully, I am sure) “not this make.” That answer made me think twice, albeit very briefly, about my impending purchase. There really is something to be said about believing and using the products you claim to represent... and I am no exception.
I was at a nightclub this past weekend in a large metropolitan city. The club was on a well-lit street and there was visible police presence at major intersections. I was with two friends (a male and a female) and we had our wits about us. I didn’t feel unsafe leaving or walking the two blocks I needed to in order to catch a taxi… until we were approached by an individual who appeared to be in some kind of distress.
The young man looked to be in his early twenties. He was telling us that he was angry that “they” had already taken him to the hospital tonight, and that he “hates hospitals.” He clearly wanted to talk about the events of the evening and about those he believed were out to get him. He followed us for a few blocks and we did what we could to remove ourselves from the situation, but he was persistent. He eventually started swearing at a car in traffic, and he lost interest in us.
In terms of staying safe, we did everything ‘right’ for a night out: no one was intoxicated; we were in an area where there were lots of people (including police); it was well-lit; we were in a group of three (one of whom was a tall, somewhat intimidating man); and we weren’t engaging in any activities that would attract unwanted attention. But when we were approached I felt uneasy, and I had my hand on my Blackberry and was ready to use SOS LINK if I needed to. I felt better knowing that I had another tool to draw on if things did go sideways with the individual who was following us.
So, how does this tie in with the story about buying my first car? Well, I blog about SOS LINK because it’s something that I believe in, and clearly, something that I use. This isn’t a “schpeel” about some product – it’s a testament to my belief in the personal security options that my company develops and delivers. And that’s why we’re different – we’ve developed a product that everyone in the office, and our families, use. And I don’t think that anything speaks louder than that.
Until next time…. Jill
Great story Jill! I have a friend who was attacked walking back to her dorm room after studying in the library until midnight. Unfortunately, there were no well lit paths between the library and the dorm. My friend was the third woman abducted by a serial rapist-killer that night. She watched as two other young women died. Then she was strangled and buried in a shallow grave. Somehow, she revived and clawed her way out of that grave and crawled to a highway. She spent her sophomore year in college in a hospital undergoing reconstructive surgery. If she or either two of the other victims had had SOS, they might well be alive today and my friend wouldn't still be suffering from the trauma she experienced those many years ago. I'm sure many parent of college age children will rest better when they get their children SOS Link!
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