His wife became increasingly annoyed by the fact that the
salesman was repeatedly home late from work. Every night he promised
faithfully that he would be home in time for dinner but something always
arose to keep him at the office later than planned. Consequently,
night after night, she ended up throwing his dinner away. Eventually
she got so mad that she issued the salesman with an ultimatum. "Tonight
you get home at six o'clock sharp or it's the last meal I ever cook for
you."
The salesman was worried. He loved his wife dearly but couldn't help working late. After all, times were tough and business was business. But he decided to make a real effort to get home on time for once. So he closed the office an hour early and set off to catch the bus. But, as he crossed the street, he was struck down by a car. He was rushed to the hospital but his injuries turned out to be minor and he was discharged shortly afterwards. Nevertheless, the delay meant that it was 8 o'clock before he arrived home.
The salesman's wife was raging. "What time do you call this?" she boomed. "You PROMISED me you'd be home by six!"
"Darling, I can explain," assured the salesman. "I know I'm two hours late, but I was run over by a car and had to go to the hospital."
"So what?" she replied. "It takes you two whole hours to get run over?"
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that in order to be successful at sales you need to be punctual for appointments. Generally speaking, people who are waiting for you, don't want to hear why you are late. They don't care! The only thing that matters to them is that you were inconsiderate of the their time and their schedule. Want to lose customers, friends, and annoy relatives? Habitually show up late.
"Punctuality is one of the cardinal business virtues; always insist on it in your subordinates." - Don Marquis
The salesman was worried. He loved his wife dearly but couldn't help working late. After all, times were tough and business was business. But he decided to make a real effort to get home on time for once. So he closed the office an hour early and set off to catch the bus. But, as he crossed the street, he was struck down by a car. He was rushed to the hospital but his injuries turned out to be minor and he was discharged shortly afterwards. Nevertheless, the delay meant that it was 8 o'clock before he arrived home.
The salesman's wife was raging. "What time do you call this?" she boomed. "You PROMISED me you'd be home by six!"
"Darling, I can explain," assured the salesman. "I know I'm two hours late, but I was run over by a car and had to go to the hospital."
"So what?" she replied. "It takes you two whole hours to get run over?"
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that in order to be successful at sales you need to be punctual for appointments. Generally speaking, people who are waiting for you, don't want to hear why you are late. They don't care! The only thing that matters to them is that you were inconsiderate of the their time and their schedule. Want to lose customers, friends, and annoy relatives? Habitually show up late.
"Punctuality is one of the cardinal business virtues; always insist on it in your subordinates." - Don Marquis
