Joke of The Day 10-28-2011

A young sales executive was working late at the office one evening, when he sees the Vice President of Global Sales from corporate headquarters standing in front of a shredder with a few sheets of paper in his hand.

"Listen," said the Vice President of Global Sales, "this is a very sensitive and important document here, and my temporary  assistant at your office has gone home for the night.  Can you handle this for me, without looking at it?"

"Certainly sir," said the young sales executive, eager to make a good first impression.

The young sales exec, turns on the paper shredder, inserts the document, and presses the start button.  In a few seconds the pages disappear into the "titanium jaws of death!"

When he returns to his desk, the young sales exec hears that all too familiar sound of a new email in his inbox.  At this time of night, he goes straight to it because it could be his wife who is expecting any day now.

"Why isn't that nice," he thinks to himself.  It's an email from the VP of Global Sales with "Thank-you, just one more thing..."  in the subject heading.   "Imagine that," the young sales exec thinks as his cursor moves over to open his email, "I didn't even know the VP of Global Sales knew my name!"  

The email opens and it reads.

"After the signed contract gets faxed through to legal, would you mind Fedexing the orignals to my assistant at headquarters?  Legal needs originals on any orders over $1,000,000.00.      I'll also need a photocopy of them for my records.       Thanks again.   You've been a great help at quarter end."

Moral of the story.   Whenever a superior asks you to do something, a professional salesperson always responds with a close ended "verification" question to ensure a complete understanding of the situation.

For example in this situation the young exec should have responded:

"I'd be glad to sir.  But just to make certain I completely understand, you would like this document completely shredded without me looking at it, correct?"  

Some might feel that "verification" questions are redundant.  Nothing could be further from the truth.   Remember that if you do not verify you would need to "assume".    And the "a-s-s" part of assume would be your own, getting kicked out of the company because of situations like these.   So remember....   in sales...   when dealing with a superior....   kick in with the ask now to prevent a kick in the "a-s-s" later.