A salesman was passing a pet shop when he saw a talking monkey
advertised for sale. He was so impressed by the monkey's vocabulary
that he bought it on the spot.
That evening the salesman took his monkey to his local bar and bet everyone $10 that the monkey could talk. A dozen people accepted the challenge but despite the salesman's coaxing, the monkey refused to say a word and the salesman had to pay up. When he got it home, the salesman was puzzled to hear the monkey chatting away merrily.
The next evening, the salesman returned to the bar and bet everyone $20 that the monkey could talk. Again there were plenty of takers but, to the salesman's fury, the monkey remained silent. After paying up, the salesman took the monkey outside.
"I'm taking you back to the shop!" he raged. "You've been a complete waste of my money!"
"Chill out," said the monkey. "Just think of the odds we'll get tomorrow!"
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that in order to succeed at sales, sometimes you have to do the unexpected. Most sales people will chatter on endlessly about their products, services and their company like monkeys. At times however, it's silence that can be golden. Often by staying silent, at the right time, your prospects will talk themselves right into a sale. By staying silent, listening more and observing more, you'll be able to understand what motivates others, and in process become much more effective at selling.
"A man who lives right, has more power in his silence than another has by his words."
- Phillips Brooks
That evening the salesman took his monkey to his local bar and bet everyone $10 that the monkey could talk. A dozen people accepted the challenge but despite the salesman's coaxing, the monkey refused to say a word and the salesman had to pay up. When he got it home, the salesman was puzzled to hear the monkey chatting away merrily.
The next evening, the salesman returned to the bar and bet everyone $20 that the monkey could talk. Again there were plenty of takers but, to the salesman's fury, the monkey remained silent. After paying up, the salesman took the monkey outside.
"I'm taking you back to the shop!" he raged. "You've been a complete waste of my money!"
"Chill out," said the monkey. "Just think of the odds we'll get tomorrow!"
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that in order to succeed at sales, sometimes you have to do the unexpected. Most sales people will chatter on endlessly about their products, services and their company like monkeys. At times however, it's silence that can be golden. Often by staying silent, at the right time, your prospects will talk themselves right into a sale. By staying silent, listening more and observing more, you'll be able to understand what motivates others, and in process become much more effective at selling.
"A man who lives right, has more power in his silence than another has by his words."
- Phillips Brooks
