The senior rep walks in to the church and right up to the confessional booth. He opens a curtain, enters, closes the curtain behind him and takes a seat. A small door slides open to his right. He sees no one, but a calm deep voice asks, "How can I help you my son?"
"Father, forgive me, for I have committed adultery with a woman from your parish," states the senior sales rep.
"Was it Mary Agnardi?" asks the priest.
"No," replied the sales rep.
"Was it Elise Guini?" asks the priest.
"No," replied the sales rep.
"Was it Chelise Boyardi?" asks the priest.
"No," replied the sales rep.
"Ok my son. You will do fifty Hail Mary's and make quite the donation in the offering plate for the next three weeks."
"Yes Father, thank you Father," said the sales rep as he left the confessional booth and made his way quickly back to the car.
"How did it go?" asked his junior sales accomplice.
"Not bad at all," said the senior sales rep. "I got three good leads!"
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that to be successful in sales you need to be prospecting for new business at all times. And as far as leads are concerned, nothing beats the accuracy and value of a personal referral. So wherever you are, or whatever you are doing, never be shy to ask for them.
"People do not seem to realized that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
