A salesman named O'Malley went to his doctor after a long
illness. The doctor, after a lengthy examination, sighed and looked
O'Malley in the eye, and said, "I've got some bad news for you. You
have cancer, and it can't be cured. In fact you have just a few days or
perhaps just a couple of weeks to live. Mr. O'Malley you need to start
making your final arrangements immediately."
O'Malley was shocked and saddened by the news. But as any true sales professional, he kept his emotions in check, managed to compose himself and walk from the doctor's office into the waiting room. There he saw his son who had been waiting for him. O'Malley said, "Well son, we Irish celebrate when things are good, and we celebrate when things don't go so well. I have cancer and I've been given just a short time to live. Let's head for the pub and have a few pints."
After three or four pints, the two were feeling a little less somber. There were some laughs and more beers. They were eventually approached by some of O'Malley's friends who asked what the two were celebrating. O'Malley told his friends, "I've only got a few weeks to live as I have been diagnosed with a severe case of AIDS."
The friends gave O'Malley their condolences and they had a couple more beers. After his friends left, O'Malley's son leaned over and whispered his confusion. "Dad, I thought you said that you were dying from cancer???? You just told your friends that you were dying from AIDS. What's that about?"
O'Malley said, "I am dying of cancer, son. I just don't want any of my pals sleeping with your mother after I'm gone."
Moral of the story. True sales professionals never let bad news get to them. Using superior creativity, objectivity and some imagination, they will make sure that they are optimally positioned for the next encounter. This persistence, this never say die attitude, is the key to their success.
"While we are living in the present, we must celebrate life every day, knowing that we are becoming history with every work, every action, every deed." - Mattie Stepanek
O'Malley was shocked and saddened by the news. But as any true sales professional, he kept his emotions in check, managed to compose himself and walk from the doctor's office into the waiting room. There he saw his son who had been waiting for him. O'Malley said, "Well son, we Irish celebrate when things are good, and we celebrate when things don't go so well. I have cancer and I've been given just a short time to live. Let's head for the pub and have a few pints."
After three or four pints, the two were feeling a little less somber. There were some laughs and more beers. They were eventually approached by some of O'Malley's friends who asked what the two were celebrating. O'Malley told his friends, "I've only got a few weeks to live as I have been diagnosed with a severe case of AIDS."
The friends gave O'Malley their condolences and they had a couple more beers. After his friends left, O'Malley's son leaned over and whispered his confusion. "Dad, I thought you said that you were dying from cancer???? You just told your friends that you were dying from AIDS. What's that about?"
O'Malley said, "I am dying of cancer, son. I just don't want any of my pals sleeping with your mother after I'm gone."
Moral of the story. True sales professionals never let bad news get to them. Using superior creativity, objectivity and some imagination, they will make sure that they are optimally positioned for the next encounter. This persistence, this never say die attitude, is the key to their success.
"While we are living in the present, we must celebrate life every day, knowing that we are becoming history with every work, every action, every deed." - Mattie Stepanek
