Yard Sale’s salesman.

Manoj Pun Tilija
2 min readSep 25, 2021

“I didn’t do it for you. I did it for my own self interest.”-Manoj Pun

I recently visited a yard sale, not to buy anything but just to look around and to practice my bargaining skill. I met this pair of an old mother and daughter who were clearing up their old stuff. By the end of the sale, I bought a tin poster of a superman, for the sake of a good sport.

If you’ve never visited a yard sale I’d highly recommend it. Just talking with people around you and hearing their backstory is fun. Of course, they will try and sell it to you. And that is the point.

Can you hold yourself in a conversation and find what the other person is trying to sell, Without thinking too much?

This skill is applied in many aspects of one’s life. Be it searching for a job, a partner, or even a used car. The skill to know how the room works and how to maneuver around people and find the best position in a bargain is crucial.

It took me a while to be aware of this room maneuvering technique, which I realized after many iterations of interactions.

But here is the deal, How does the room work?

Everyone is selling you something, be it me or a yard salesman, everyone. The big picture is are you aware of what the other person is selling?

Take this article for instance: Are you aware of what I am trying to sell?

Your response could be to have many followers.

Me: No. I am selling you social credit.

You: What do you mean?

Me: By sharing articles in medium, I put my skin in the game. I don’t have time to talk with you and listen to your story. Instead, I write my stories, create an accountability component in my model.

You: What’s the point of it?

Me: It eliminates bullshitters in my life. People who sell bullshits are aware of my vernacular. This is a filtering mechanism. So ultimately, I am writing not for you reader, I am writing it for myself. If it benefits you as a by-product, Kudos to you.

Don’t be a sucker.

This is my wish & my blessing, may you find who you truly are & express it to the world.

Lots of Love, Chao.

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Manoj Pun Tilija

Among the infinite Wisdom, I am lost. An admirer of knowledge & Virtue, a lover of curiosity. A Part-Time Barbarian. https://www.parttimebarbarian.com