Sales Joke of the Day (September 9) The Cab Ride.

After hailing a cab, the young salesman boasted to the driver, "Yes sir, it's going to be a great night tonight!   I met Jacqueline at the health club and she invited me up to her apartment.  She lives with her folks, but she said they'll be going to the ballet as soon as her dad gets home from work.  After that, we'll have the apartment all to ourselves and I intend to party!"

Arriving at the apartment building and hurrying upstairs, the young salesman sat chatting with his date in the den while they waited for her father to come home and her parents to leave.
 
Not long thereafter, the girl's parents entered the room.  "Well," said Jacqueline's mother, we'll be leaving now."

"Say," said the young salesman.  "I have a good idea.  Why don't we go with you to the ballet?"

"Why how nice!"  said Jacqueline's mother.  "I'm sure we'll be able to buy two extra tickets."

As the young salesman helped the disappointed Jacqueline on with her coat, she asked, "Why didn't you tell me you like the ballet?"

"Never mind that," replied the young salesman.  "Why didn't you tell me your old man drives a cab?"

Moral of the story.   True sales professionals know that in order to be successful at sales, discretion is called for.   True sales professionals know better than to ever talk about a deal to outsiders before it closes.   Because you just never know who is listening.   They remember the phrase, 'Loose lips, sink ships' and sales professionals never want to responsible for sinking their own deals.


"Judgment is not upon all occasions required, but discretion always is."       -    Philip Stanhope

Sales Joke of the Day (September 5) Referrals.

After having been unfaithful for years, the salesman told his business partner that he was going to come clean with his wife and beg for her forgiveness.  The only thing his business partner cautioned was that he not reveal the names of his paramours, since it wasn't fair to get them in trouble.

Confessing his infidelity that night, the salesman was surprised when his wife's curiosity outweighed her anger.

"Tell me," she demanded, who did you sleep with?  Was it that widow Mrs. Smith?"

"I can't tell you," the salesman replied.

"I know!  It was that loose tramp Linda from two blocks down the street.  She's slept with everyone in town!"

"Discretion forbids," the salesman answered.

"The young receptionist from your office, I saw how she kept looking at you" his wife said confidently.  "You went to bed with that crazy loon!  Now everyone at your office will know and I'll be the laughing stock of the Christmas party!"

Once again the salesman said nothing and his wife finally gave up.  The next day his business partner asked the salesman how things went.

"Terrific!" the salesman replied.   "Not only did my wife forgive me, but she gave me three new leads!"

Moral of the story.   True sales professionals know that in order to succeed at sales they need referrals.   They also know that once someone starts giving you referrals, just take notes and don't interrupt them until they run out of names.  You just never know how many leads you'll get.

"The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion."        -    Henry Steeele Commager