For weeks, I was anticipating a Geico promotion at the auto show near my house. I wanted so badly to work with this company and to do this promotion. On the morning of the event, however, I had some bad luck.
It started out normal...I got in my car and headed towards the event. I heard a "thump thump" sound, so I pulled over to the side of the road where I realized that my tire was flat. It was 7:30am and I had to be there at 9:00am (half hour away + traffic). I don't know anything about changing tires, so I called my friend who I knew was going to the Auto Show to pick up his tickets. I waited for 20 minutes and he didn't show. By now I'm flipping out, but I lost the phone number of the contact person I needed to speak with at the event. He finally gets there, 40 minutes late. I yell at him and he said he got pulled over by a cop who then followed him all the way to my house to make sure he wasn't speeding.
I get to the event late on my first day of ever working with this very well-known company. I appologize many, many times, fill out my paperwork and get changed for the event. Everything's going great...I'm enthusiastic, I'm interacting with as many people as I can and bringing them to the booth and I'm having fun. About 10:30am the Gecko costume comes out and we get a swarm of people. I was still somewhat sick from a cold I had and I was trying very hard to stay in tact. However, not being able to drink my water because I had to talk so much made me nearly faint. The last thing I remembered was the CEO saying "are you okay" and I said "no I don't think so" and the next thing I remember I was sitting with a paramedic who was taking my pulse and blood pressure. I felt so stupid and was told to go home. I couldn't go home because I didn't have my car since the tire had gone flat. My friend already left and I had to wait for my dad. It was in the middle of the city, somewhere my dad doesn't travel to...so it took another 2 hours for him to get there. The CEO of the event had to sit and wait with me in the paramedic's office for those 2 hours for liability reasons. I felt horrible for wasting her time!! I wonder if I ever have a chance with that company again...
I just did a promo where a staff member fainted the from environment we were in. It was at a drag race and the noise, car exhaust, 90 degree heat, and smell almost made me sick also.
I was in an experience before where I was having car trouble and forgot to program the number in my phone. I learned the hard way how important it is to do that.
It does happen, sometimes so perfectly you have to look around for the candid camera.
The good news is there are plenty of clients & companies out there. Most large companies give second chances (if only just because it takes several bad experiences with someone for the word to get around the office). Just work hard and remember your mistakes (you can\\\'t control a flat but, you should always have important numbers in several places: written down + programmed in your phone).
No matter what, always pay attention to your body. Never martyr yourself to any promo; I\\\'ve had several staff pass-out on me over the years, it\\\'s scary.
Thanks for sharing your story! Everyone should take a lesson or two from your experience.
Member Articles 
