gain confidence, infiltrate and prevent

Trade something with someone you know. Try to ignore the fact that it doesn't belong to you. Try to ignore the fact that what you’ve just traded you will never see again. Now, take a moment to convince the other person to do the same. Before that, think about what you expect to receive. Go a step further: trade something with a stranger—a complete unknown that you happen to see on the street. This next part is important, trade for something that you truly need.

Now, what do you expect to get? Think for a moment--something that you truly need. Find something that you’ve been thinking about longingly for the last few days, weeks, months, whatever.

Now, think about what you would be willing to give.

Do you believe in fair?

Start small; something common like a pen. Now, you need a pen, so you trade a pencil. Fair, expected; probably seen as nothing out of the ordinary.

Now blow it up to a larger proportion. Say, you need drinking water.

Say you need food...

Say you need both—what can you offer? What are you willing to sacrifice? Well, you get the idea. This horse has been beaten. I’ve always had an affinity for the 70s.

Earlier this week, I was talking with a friend of mine, one who I haven't spoken to in quite some time. I got a late night phone call from him Monday night. The call started as one would expect; the sharing of some good memories, the mentioning of some tough times that we had gone through, questions of mediocrity to rekindle a fire and to replace the certain moments of awkwardness that just happen to form on their own.

Then, the question, "I don't mean to ask, but... err... you know... let me just throw this out there. I need..." it trails off from there. About thirty seconds of rambling, followed by what I knew was coming about half way into the phone call.

There is a reason he mentioned that one time he helped me. There is a reason he asked how I have been—just waiting for me to ask him how he's doing, to see if I cared enough to ask.

Hook. His mind subconsciously driving this conversation into a certain direction, creating a window of opportunity at just the right moment, creating the right ambiance before asking.

What he asked he definitely didn't need. I said ‘No can do.’ It was a terrible investment. I’ve known him for quite some time.

I doubt I will hear from him anytime soon. Line and sinker.