"I'm so glad to see you Uncle!" shouted his nephew. "You're not carrying anything are you?"
"No, I'm not carrying anything, Jimmy," replied the salesman.
"So, does that mean you're empty-handed then?" asked Jimmy.
"Well, yes, I guess it does," replied the salesman, somewhat bewildered. "Why do you ask?"
"Now Daddy can do the trick he's been promising to do all week!" exclaimed little Jimmy.
"Trick?" asked the salesman. "What trick?"
"Daddy has been telling Mommy all week that he would be climbing the walls if you showed up here empty handed again!" replied little Jimmy.
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that in order to be successful at sales they must adhere to all forms of social convention. If you are invited to a party or a get together during the football playoffs, it's customary to bring something. Either something to drink, like a bottle of fine wine, or a case of expensive beer, or perhaps a snack food item to enhance everyone's enjoyment of the game. Or, perhaps a bucket of chicken, a couple of pizzas, a few bags of potato chips and salsa, chicken wings, a plate of pigs in a blanket, a fondue with cheese, an assortment of meat, scallops and all the fixings, any of these items will help make the celebration a little more festive. You don't want to get the reputation of being a freeloader. Such a personal foul will cost you a lot more than 15 yards and an automatic first down. Such a personal foul could prevent you from advancing in your career.
"One of the biggest things you have is your reputation and your reputation with knowing what's good and what's not good." - Paul Feig
