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I got the whole nine innings. But the conversation was interrupted by him jumping up and calling out to passersby things like, “Hey, Don! I followed your career. Would you please sign this ball for me?”

The players weren’t in uniform. They were just walking by randomly.

That guy must have had a half-dozen balls in that bag. Then I went over to buy my tickets. As he was leaving, he showed me all the autographed balls!

I asked a few people how they got their jobs. One met someone informally at an electronics store. Another at a bar. Yet another at a sporting event.

I decided to validate my study and survey some important-looking people the night of the game. One was referred, then instantly interviewed with a manager, another was an HR walk-in and instantly interviewed with the first person she could find (using Dodgerspeak), a third was at a game and got creative by instantly interviewing someone apparently in charge of Dodger Dogs.

The people who work at Dodger Stadium are outstanding. Knowledgeable, courteous, and enjoyable to be around. How do they pick such winners? It’s called common sense. These people showed initiative from the first pitch. Interview initiative. They instantly interviewed!

I met not a single person who applied online.

This experience reminded me of a summer job I had one year when I was still in college. I hired people at Universal Studios. We’d sit there all day adhering to our mechanical interview schedules.

Then we’d get a call from some exec and hire the person they met at a polo game. This happened so often that we’d keep one line open just to receive management calls.

I wish you could have been there, genie (Do 1). The disconnect is so obvious that everyone out there in Lalaland misses it.

If you don’t step up to the plate, you can’t hit the ball out of the park.

Take a lesson from the world champion Blue Crew.

Play ball!

Do 58: Promoting Interviews Using Postal Centers

New information about instant interviews goes on in private postal centers every day!

In this Do, I’ll show you how to get that information. You must know the right places, find the right people, treat them right, and ask the right way.

Follow this formula.

Pick an Independent Postal Center

Almost all postal centers are either independently owned franchises or independent.

There’s a big difference for interviewing lead purposes.

Franchises have detailed privacy procedures they must follow. Therefore, don’t expect to learn of any box holders looking for help or expanding.

Independent postal centers are just the opposite. The owners are usually on the premises and have other businesses there. These businesses vary from dry cleaners in office buildings to storefront operations that do photocopying.

They see, hear, and talk to a large volume of people every day, and they know what mail comes in. From past-due notices to checks.

They gladly put customer flyers, brochures, and cards in all the boxes to help customers promote their businesses.

I had an independent for years. He’d call me up and say, “You’ve got an overnight package. Two checks came in. And this letter looks like it’s from a new client.”

I thought that was so comical. He said it like he had opened my mail. It never occurred to him that maybe I didn’t want him to know what I was receiving!

He became a valuable partner.

I’ll discuss how to do that shortly, but first . . .

Pick the Location Carefully

If you were here in Los Angeles, you’d want a postal center in Beverly Hills, Century City, or downtown.

The upscale addresses would be Rodeo Drive, Avenue of the Stars, or Wilshire Boulevard. That’s where the rich, famous, and up-and-comers have their so-called offices.

Regardless of where they really have their businesses, these people understand the importance of a successful image.

So find a postal center that’s convenient, but stay away from ones in residential and low-rent areas.

It doesn’t have to be fancy