There is a city park just on the outskirts of the Moscow
International Business Center. Nearly 20 years ago, when communism
fell, several statues were erected in the park honoring professions
within Business and Industry. Midway down the main square, about 250
yards apart stand two statues facing one another. One is of a Russian
saleswoman that directly faces across the courtyard a Russian salesman.
For twenty years these two statues have faced one another. Neither has
moved. Neither has taken their glance off the other.
Early one morning an angel appeared before the statues and said, "Since the two of you have been exemplary statues and have brought enjoyment and education to many people, I am giving you your greatest wish. I hereby give you the gift of life! You have 30 minutes to do whatever you desire." And with that the statues came to life.
The two statues smiled at each other, ran towards some nearby woods and dove behind a couple of bushes. The angel smiled to himself as he listened to the two statues giggling, bushes rustling and twigs snapping.
After 15 minutes, the two statues emerged from the bushes satisfied and smiling. Puzzled, the angel looked at his watch and asked the statues, "You still have 15 minutes. Would you like to continue?"
The salesman statue looked at the saleswoman statue and asked, "Do you want to do it again?"
Smiling the saleswoman statue said, "Sure. But this time YOU hold down the pigeon while I p-o-o-p on its head!"
Moral of the story. As sales professionals we must always remember never to "JUMP" to any conclusions until all the facts are revealed. Yes there are no doubt patterns and trends that emerge in any industry, but we must never assume anything until we have uncovered all of our prospects' needs with probing questions.
"You accept the that sometimes you are the pigeon and sometimes you are the statue."
- Claude Chabrol
Early one morning an angel appeared before the statues and said, "Since the two of you have been exemplary statues and have brought enjoyment and education to many people, I am giving you your greatest wish. I hereby give you the gift of life! You have 30 minutes to do whatever you desire." And with that the statues came to life.
The two statues smiled at each other, ran towards some nearby woods and dove behind a couple of bushes. The angel smiled to himself as he listened to the two statues giggling, bushes rustling and twigs snapping.
After 15 minutes, the two statues emerged from the bushes satisfied and smiling. Puzzled, the angel looked at his watch and asked the statues, "You still have 15 minutes. Would you like to continue?"
The salesman statue looked at the saleswoman statue and asked, "Do you want to do it again?"
Smiling the saleswoman statue said, "Sure. But this time YOU hold down the pigeon while I p-o-o-p on its head!"
Moral of the story. As sales professionals we must always remember never to "JUMP" to any conclusions until all the facts are revealed. Yes there are no doubt patterns and trends that emerge in any industry, but we must never assume anything until we have uncovered all of our prospects' needs with probing questions.
"You accept the that sometimes you are the pigeon and sometimes you are the statue."
- Claude Chabrol
