Sales Joke of the Day (March 26) The Birth.

When the traveling salesman got the message at the hotel desk that his wife had given birth, he rushed to the phone.  "Hi honey!" he cried happily, "Is it a boy or a girl?"


"Ernest, Ernest, Ernest," sighed his wife wearily, "Is that all you can ever think about?   S-e-x, s-e-x, s-e-x?"


Moral of the Story.    True sales professionals know to qualify their questions.  Be careful to address any needs your prospect might have first, before hitting your prospect up with questions that uncover the core information that you are interested in.  The last question you want your prospect to be asking you is;  "Is that all you can ever think about? Commissions, commissions, commissions?"


"Man's main task in life is to give birth to himself, to become what he potentially is.  The most important product of his effort is his own personality."      -  Erich Fromm

Sales Joke of the Day (archives) The Hotel.

Staying the night in a cheap hotel in a dead-end town, the salesman was bored out of his skull.  The hotel bar, always his port of call, was closed for renovations, there were no restaurants nearby and the TV in his room was broken.  The salesman resorted to looking in the bedside table drawer for some reading material, but all he could find was a Bible.  He opened the first page and a note fell out.

It read: "My son, if you are troubled by the demons of alcohol and seek help in your darkest hour of need, you can always call on me and I will be there to ease your pain and anguish.  Don't be afraid to pick up the phone and call me.  I will be happy to listen to your temptations and be supportive as possible."

The note struck a chord, so, close to tears, the salesman picked up the phone and called the number given.  After a few rings and a few seconds, a voice on the other end finally answered: "Harry's Liquor Store..."

Moral of the story.   True sales professionals know that when they are on the road, it's best to stick to your regular routine and get plenty of rest.   Staying up too late or calling strangers will lead you to trouble rather than solve your problems.

"The great advantage of a hotel is that it is a refuge from home life."   
                                                                   -  George Bernard Shaw