Three salesmen, a real estate salesman, a software sales person and a
used car salesman were without tickets for the closing ceremonies of
the Summer Olympic Games. But each hoped to talk their way in at the
gate. Security was very tight, however, and each of their attempts was
met with a stern refusal.
While wandering around outside the stadium, the real estate salesman
came upon a construction site, which gave him a great idea. Grabbing a
length of scaffolding, he presented himself at the gate and said,
"Johnson, the pole vault," and was admitted.
The software salesman overhearing this, went at once to search the
construction site. He came up with a hammer and presented himself at
the gate and said, "McTavish, the hammer." He was also admitted.
The used car salesman combed the site for almost an hour and was
nearly ready to give up when he spotted his ticket in. Seizing a roll
of barbed wire he presented himself at the gate and announced, "Smith,
fencing."
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that when you're
boxed in with an account, and nothing seems to be going your way, you
don't give up. You get creative, re-arrange the facts at your disposal
and try again. Never let yourself get fenced in by stale thinking.
"Don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up." - Robert Frost
