"It's nice to see someone in such a good mood," commented the bartender. "Mind if I ask why?"
"This is the happiest day of my life! I'm finally taller than our Vice President of Sales," explained the salesman, beaming from ear to ear.
The bartender studied his customer disbelievingly. "Are you trying to tell me that someone at your age, in their forties, actually grew taller?"
"Of course not!" said the salesman. "You see, our Vice President was in an accident on the interstate yesterday," he said cheerfully, "and they had to amputate both his legs."
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know better than to celebrate the misfortune of others in public. It looks bad. Others will think less of you. It is a far better practice to keep such enjoyments private and in the comfort of your own home. The same goes for voodoo dolls, dart boards with executives or colleagues pictures on it, your do it yourself pipe-bomb kit, your knife collection and your expanding collection of hand held firearms. While you may consider yourself to be a road warrior, others may just not understand the zealous passion you have for what you do. So hold your emotions in check and wear your grin on the inside. You'll be just fine.
"Each Warrior wants to leave the mark of his will, his signature on important acts he touches. This is not the voice of ego but of the human spirit, rising up and declaring that it has something to contribute to the solution of the hardest problems, no matter how vexing!"
- Pat Riley
