A salesman was forced to take a day off work to appear in court
on a minor traffic charge. After waiting all day for his case to be
heard, he was finally called before the judge late in the afternoon.
But no sooner had the defendant stood in the dock than the judge
announced that the court would be adjourned until the following day.
"This is an outrage!" shouted the salesman.
Tired at the end of a long day, the judge rapped back: "Twenty dollars, contempt of court!"
Then noticing the salesman checking his wallet, the judge softened and said: "It's all right. You don't have to pay right now."
"I wasn't going to," replied the salesman. "I was just checking if I had enough money for two more choice words!"
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that at times our urge to get the last word in can cost us a sale, an account or a career. Perpetually needing to get the last word in, can lead prospects to believe you care nothing for their opinion, or worse still you can come off as rude or arrogant. Check your need to get the last word in at the door, and a lot more doors of opportunity will no doubt open up for you.
"So little done, so much to do." - Cecil Rhodes (his last words)
"This is an outrage!" shouted the salesman.
Tired at the end of a long day, the judge rapped back: "Twenty dollars, contempt of court!"
Then noticing the salesman checking his wallet, the judge softened and said: "It's all right. You don't have to pay right now."
"I wasn't going to," replied the salesman. "I was just checking if I had enough money for two more choice words!"
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that at times our urge to get the last word in can cost us a sale, an account or a career. Perpetually needing to get the last word in, can lead prospects to believe you care nothing for their opinion, or worse still you can come off as rude or arrogant. Check your need to get the last word in at the door, and a lot more doors of opportunity will no doubt open up for you.
"So little done, so much to do." - Cecil Rhodes (his last words)
