A salesman walks into the front door of a bar. He is obviously
drunk. He staggers up to the bar, seats himself on a stool, and with a
belch, asks the bartender for a drink.
The bartender politely informs the salesman that it appears he has already had plenty to drink and that he would not be served additional liquor at this bar. The bartender would however, get a cab called for him.
The drunken sales is briefly surprised then softly scoffs, grumbles, climbs off the bar stool, and staggers out the front door.
A few minutes later, the same drunk salesman stumbles in the side door of the bar. He wobbles up to the bar and hollers for a drink. The bartender comes over, and still politely, but more firmly, refuses service to the salesman due to his inebriation. Again the bartender offers to call a cab for him.
The drunken salesman looks at the bartender angrily, curses and shows himself out the side door, all the while grumbling and shaking his head.
A few minutes later, the same drunken salesman bursts in through the back door of the bar. He plops himself up on a bar stool, gathers his wits, and belligerently orders a drink.
The bartender comes over and emphatically reminds the drunken salesman, that he is clearly drunk, will be served no more drinks, and either a cab or the police will be called immediately.
The surprised drunken salesman looks at the bartender and in hopeless anguish, cries, "Man! How many bars do you work at?"
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that it takes more than just persistence to be successful at sales. It takes a clear head, a plan and customer centricity. What new piece of information of real value to their business, are you bringing to each face to face meeting? Remember, your prospects have their own customers to take care of and their own businesses to run. Showing up time and time again with nothing of value, will guarantee that you'll be shown the door.
"Statistics are used much like a drunk uses a lamppost: for support, not illumination."
- Vin Scully
The bartender politely informs the salesman that it appears he has already had plenty to drink and that he would not be served additional liquor at this bar. The bartender would however, get a cab called for him.
The drunken sales is briefly surprised then softly scoffs, grumbles, climbs off the bar stool, and staggers out the front door.
A few minutes later, the same drunk salesman stumbles in the side door of the bar. He wobbles up to the bar and hollers for a drink. The bartender comes over, and still politely, but more firmly, refuses service to the salesman due to his inebriation. Again the bartender offers to call a cab for him.
The drunken salesman looks at the bartender angrily, curses and shows himself out the side door, all the while grumbling and shaking his head.
A few minutes later, the same drunken salesman bursts in through the back door of the bar. He plops himself up on a bar stool, gathers his wits, and belligerently orders a drink.
The bartender comes over and emphatically reminds the drunken salesman, that he is clearly drunk, will be served no more drinks, and either a cab or the police will be called immediately.
The surprised drunken salesman looks at the bartender and in hopeless anguish, cries, "Man! How many bars do you work at?"
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that it takes more than just persistence to be successful at sales. It takes a clear head, a plan and customer centricity. What new piece of information of real value to their business, are you bringing to each face to face meeting? Remember, your prospects have their own customers to take care of and their own businesses to run. Showing up time and time again with nothing of value, will guarantee that you'll be shown the door.
"Statistics are used much like a drunk uses a lamppost: for support, not illumination."
- Vin Scully
