Half-Truths

One day a young salesman burst into his parents house and said, "Mom!  Dad! I have great news!  I'm getting married to the greatest girl in the world!  Florence has agreed to marry me."

But that night the young salesman's dad took him aside for a little chat.  "I have some bad news for you son," he confessed.  "See, I used to fool around a lot, and Florence is actually your half-sister.  I'm afraid you can't marry her."

The young salesman was brokenhearted, and moped around for a good six months, but eventually he started dating again.  And a year or so later he came home with glad tidings.  "Vickie said yes! We're getting married on Christmas Eve. Isn't that great?"

Alas, the young salesman's father insisted on another private conversation and again broke the bad news to his son.  "Vickie's your half-sister, too, son.  I'm awfully sorry."

This time the young salesman was beside himself with anger and grief, and he finally pleaded with his mother.  "At this rate I'm never going to get married," he moaned.  "Every time I fall in love, Dad says the girl is my half-sister."

"Don't pay any attention to him," said the young salesman's mother, cheerfully.  "You see, I did some fooling around myself, and he's not your father!"

Moral of the story.   True sales professionals know never to use half-truths.   Once you put them out there, they always come home to haunt you .  And you can't expect others to take responsibility for them.    Just like half-sisters or half-brothers, everyone feels awkward around half-truths.

"A lie can travel half-way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes."     -     Charles Spurgeon


Wishing you a very faithful Merry Christmas,

Twenty

I read a great article today about 20 minutes.  You know I have always believed from personal experience that ones ability to concentrate and retain information is limited to about 20 minutes per session.  Take a break and then come back for another 20 has what has always worked best for me.  Today, I heard that same 20 minutes discussed relative to doing things necessary for your sales success.  Sales people hate prospecting for new business but we all know it is necessary for success.  You have to have that funnel full at all times and they way you do that is to find potentially new customers and you cannot do that without some form of prospecting.  It was suggested that you do this unpleasant task for only 20 minutes per day.  Just 20, no more no less.  So you know when the 20 is up you are done for the day.  Human nature dictates that if you have a success in one of those 20 minute sessions you might find it easy to say do it for 25 minutes and then maybe 30............
Why don't you give this a try on anything you know in your heart is good for you but you do not like doing.  Exercising would be one for me and I intend to try it. Prospecting might be one for all of us to try for 20 minutes.
Why don't you start that right now.  No New Year's resolutions.  Start doing it NOW!!
Start it with the shippers and consignees of your existing customers.  That is the best way.  You can also start it on LinkedIn by search for companies and people within them who are engaged in shipping the kind of commodity in which you have expertise.
20 minutes!!  That is all you should be asking yourself to do.
Try it!

Sales Joke and Moral

A salesman was suffering from constipation, so his doctor prescribed suppositories.

A week later the salesman was back at the doctor's complaining that his constipation had gotten worse, not better.

The doctor asked, "Have you been taking the suppositories regularly?"

"What do you think I've been doing Doc," replied the salesman, "shoving them up my "butt" or something?"

Moral of the story.   True sales professionals know that sometimes we get in our own way.  We get used to certain routines and ways of doing things that we become set in our ways and reject any form of change.  True sales professionals understand that a refusal to learn is a refusal to earn.  They know that while constipation can plug you up, constipation of your mind can ruin your career. 

"I consider looseness with words no less of a defect than looseness of the bowels."   -    John Calvin

Christmas in the Military

FLAGS WILL BE FLOWN AT HALF STAFF TOMORROW TO COMMEMORATE PEARL HARBOR DAY

This Christmas season, may we remember the men and women who sacrificed and continue to sacrifice so much to defend the freedoms of this great nation.

Throughout our nation's history, American military members have forfeited celebrating Christmas to defend their families and their homes. In fact, in 1776, the American troops took advantage of the Hessians' Christmas celebration to cross the Delaware River and attack the surprised Hessian troops, providing America with a badly needed victory.

165 years later, American soldiers were once again forced to defend their families and their country on Christmas Day. On December 7, 1941, the “date which will live in infamy,” Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, effectively declaring war on America. As December 7^th approaches, remember Pearl Harbor and those who lost their lives, as well as those who continued to fight for our freedom - the men whose stories still inspire us decades later.

As this Christmas season begins, let us take time to reflect on and thank God for the greatest sacrifice given by the Savior of the world, and to also remember to thank the men and women in uniform today who continue to sacrifice and put their lives on the line for this great nation. Reach out to those veterans and servicemen and women around you and take time to share the love of God. Here are some simple ways you can be “salt and light" to those who have willingly sacrificed so much to defend America:

• Contact a local nursing home to “Adopt a Veteran” who may not have any family this Christmas
• Find other ways to help our Veterans throughout the year (Wounded Warrior Project, Kingdom Warriors, Face the Fire, Operation Gratitude, Disabled American Veterans, etc.)
• Pray for our troops and their families
• Send a care package to those overseas or help out their family back home
• Continue to find ways to help the troops and their families throughout the year
•  
• From Wallbuilders  "Christmas in The Military"

Thanksgiving Message

The following conversation took place at Timothy’s funeral.  His memorial service affected people deeply. Mourner after mourner shared powerful stories about the way the 45-year-old man had touched their lives.

“That was wonderful,” one man exclaimed. “When I die, I want the exact same service. The same music, the same Bible readings, the same words.”

Another man put a hand on his shoulder. “Our church doesn’t do cookie cutter funerals,” he said. “If you want a funeral like this one, then you are going to have to live a life like Timothy between now and when you die.” (Condensed from “GET REAL: A Spiritual Journey For Men” - 2007)

What would you want people to say about you when you are gone?  Or better still what do you want people to say about you NOW!

I once heard this in a sermon but I have added to the first three letters the last three myself. 

You might think about it as a legacy to work toward.  

Be a FATTTE person

A Faithful,Available,Teachable,Trustworthy,Thankful,Encourager

Now there are no money back guarantees with this promise but I CAN tell you if that becomes your legacy or your DASH (the little line between the time you were born and the day you die). you will have made a difference in the lives of others.

So at this Thanksgiving time of the year

I am thankful that I can express myself to each of you and that you are gracious enough to read what I send you.

Have a Meaningful and Memorable Veteran's Day

Armed Forces Medley

"If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, so that my child may have peace." Thomas Paine

     I was talking to a friend yesterday and mentioned something that I have thought about for many years.  I tend to gravitate toward Veterans.  In groups of people I do not know in a social situation, I manage to usually end up talking to a Veteran even when I do not know that fact in advance.  Coincidence?  I think not!
     It will be my honor to lie among all of you that have served when my body moves to the dirt side of the grass.  It is also my fervent hope that our spirits will all meet "up yonder"!

Wishing you a Memorable & Meaningful Veteran's Day,
Dan

Captain W Dan Dobson

United States Air Force

1967-1972 

Sales Joke and Moral

While cruising at 40,000 feet, and on his way to Las Vegas, a salesman looked out his window, "My gosh!"  he screamed, "one of the engines just blew up!"
Other passengers left their seats and came running over; suddenly the aircraft was locked by a second blast as yet another engine exploded on the other side of the cabin. 
The passengers were in panic now, and even the stewardesses couldn't maintain order.  Just then standing tall and smiling confidently, the pilot strode from the cockpit and assured everyone that there was nothing to worry about.  His words and demeanor seemed calm and he made most of the passengers feel better about the situation.  They sat back down in their seats as the pilot calmly walked to the door of the aircraft.  There he grabbed several packages from under the seats and began handing them to the flight attendants. Each crew member attached the package to their backs.
"Say," spoke up the alert salesman, "aren't those parachutes?"
The pilot confirmed that they were.
The salesman continued his probing questions to uncover the truth; "But I thought you said there was nothing to worry about?"
"There isn't," replied the pilot as the third engine exploded.  "We're just going to get help."

Moral of the story.  True sales professionals understand the importance of paying attention to non-verbal, physical cues from their prospects.   Prospects may lie to your face, but their body posture and sudden gestures give away their true thoughts, feelings and emotions every time.   Want to thrust some altitude into your sales career?   Understand first that you are the pilot of your own sales career and your ability to read the minor weather type shifts in non-verbal cues will determine whether you have a successful flight or whether you will ultimately crash and burn.  It's that simple.